Jim Faulk, a former Hancock coroner facing felony criminal charges, dies in Georgia
Former Hancock County Coroner Jim Faulk has died of complications of cancer in Georgia, according to an obituary published by MainstreetNews.com.
Faulk, 75, was surrounded by family at his home when he died on April 5, the report said. He is survived by his four children, four siblings and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beryl Prevost.
Faulk was elected to three terms as coroner in Hancock County but resigned in 2021, saying in his resignation letter that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and was undergoing treatment in and out of state.
In addition, Faulk suffered from COVID-19, which resulted in heart problems.
Faulk is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. who served in Vietnam who later earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Alabama.
Faulk was a beloved member of the Coast community for years before allegations of wrongdoing against him surfaced.
Faulk resignation from office July 2021 came after the Office of the State Medical Examiner suspended his certification. The suspension occurred in the aftermath of a search by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics at his home and office.
The state Medical Examiner’s Office said Faulk’s certification was suspended over his alleged “potential failure to comply” with mandatory reporting requirements to the Department of Child Protective Services on child deaths and to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics on overdose deaths.
This year, a state grand jury indicted Faulk on various felony charges, including embezzlement, multiple counts of making false representations to defraud the government and one count of alteration of records. He was accused of submitting and altering fraudulent invoices to Hancock County supervisors. and allegedly received $13,500 in public funds as a result of the alleged fraud, State Auditor Shad White said.
Faulk had denied any wrongdoing.
This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 6:34 PM.
