On 04/21/2021 at 05:47 Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo was notified by

Gold Cross of a deceased person located at 3817 Crest Dr. Hephzibah, GA

30815. Upon arrival Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo spoke with Gold
Cross personnel who advised the decedent, Nichoel Gaither, called EMS at
04:39 for respiratory distress. Gold Cross advised the decedent was on the
phone with the dispatcher advising she could not get up and open the door.
Gold Cross advised the Richmond County Fire Department arrived on
scene and called for the sheriff’s office to make entry into the residence.
Once the door was breached the decedent was unresponsive and CPR was
initiated and was unsuccessful. The decedent was pronounced at 06:35 by
Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo.
Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo examined and photographed the body.
The body was supine on the floor clothed in underwear only. No signs of
trauma were observed on the body.
Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo spoke with the decedent’s mother, Mattie
Gaither, who stated the decedent called her earlier in the morning and
reminded her of a doctor’s appointment. Mattie Gaither advised the
decedent was a rectal cancer survivor but recently found out she had lesions
on her liver and lung. Mattie Gaither advised the decedent had a biopsy
done on her lung at Doctors Hospital on 04/12/2021 and had breathing
problems since the procedure. Mattie Gaither advised she did not know of
any other medical conditions for the decedent. Mattie Gaither advised she
was going to use Martin Taylor Funeral Home in Harlem, GA.
08:20 – Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo made contact with Nicole Burgin
with GBI-DOFS who advised to have the body transported to Atlanta for
autopsy.
Deputy Coroner Ryan DiGiacomo advised Administrative Assistant Temako
Simpson to send a subpoena to Doctors Hospital for the decedent’s medical
records.
The body was transported to the Richmond County Morgue by Ford
Mortuary Transport.
COD: Pulmonary embolism due to Deep vein thrombosis of the right and
left legs
Ryan DiGiacomo
Deputy Coroner

Approved:
Kenneth Boose Sr., D – ABMDI
Chief Deputy Coroner
April 23, 2021