Nixon appoints Christian County coroner

Last edited 12:27 p.m., Dec. 4, 2015

Gov. Jay Nixon yesterday filled the vacant Christian County coroner position.

Mandi Armitage, the three-year deputy coroner for the county, was selected to succeed Brad Cole, who in August was narrowly elected Christian County sheriff. Armitage said via email the coroner's salary is $38,000.

“Mandi Armitage has extensive experience in this field, and I am pleased to appoint her as the new coroner to serve the people of Christian County,” Nixon said in a news release of the Republican appointee.

Armitage, who also works for private autopsy business Southwest Missouri Forensics, previously was employed by Mid-America Transplant Services as a tissue retrieval team coordinator.

Cole was elected sheriff by a slim margin over competitor Ralph Phillips.

He replaced Joey Kyle, who resigned in May after pleading guilty to embezzling county funds and laundering the proceeds of a political supporter’s investment fraud scheme.