County appoints medical examiner

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Dr. Cyril Wecht, Allegheny County's coroner and a well-known forensic pathologist, was appointed the county's first medical examiner.
County Executive Dan Onorato announced Dr. Wecht's appointment to a five-year term Thursday.
Known for consulting on high-profile cases ranging from JonBenet Ramsey to Laci Peterson to Elvis Presley, Wecht was the elected county coroner from 1970 to 1980 and took office again in 1996.
The position of coroner was eliminated as the result of a referendum during the May primary, when voters approved cutting the number of elected offices in an effort to streamline government and make it more accountable to the executive.
Wecht, who was out of town when the appointment was announced, is under federal investigation.
His attorney has said prosecutors are looking at whether Wecht improperly used his county staff and resources to further his private pathology practice. Wecht has said he is careful to not do private work on county time.
On Wednesday, Wecht signed an agreement to resign the post if he's indicted or enters a plea agreement as a result of the investigation, or is otherwise unable to fulfill his term, Onorato said.
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