EVERETT, Wash. -- The team at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office is specifically trained to deal with death, but even for them, the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting took a toll. It's the latest high-profile, pain-filled case they've had to respond to in what's been an unprecedented year for their office.
"There's no question about it, the thing about this job is that we see the worst of the worst," said Dan Christman, who serves as deputy director of the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office.
He says the March 22 Oso landslide that brought the remains of 43 people into the office's autopsy room was hard on the entire staff.
"It's very emotionally taxing, and then just dealing with somebody who has lost their life, especially in violent means, it takes its toll as well," he said.
During the aftermath of the landslide, counselors were brought in to help the 14 people on his staff. Therapy dogs were also used during some of the more difficult weeks.
When the call came in about the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, even these seasoned medical investigators couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"It was like, "Oh my gosh. We're getting hit again," said medical investigator Julie Wolf, who has been with Snohomish County for three years.
Their team responded to the school and ultimately was responsible for identifying the bodies of both the shooter and his victims. It was an especially emotional job for those in the medical examiner's office that are parents.
"One of our pathologists that came out to the scene has a son the same age as the victims, and he was having a very difficult time because he was able to relate it to his home life," said medical investigator Lauren Alvarez.
Christman says that's the hardest part. Dealing with death is part of the job, but his staff members are also moms, dads, daughters and sons themselves.
"We have people in our office who live in and around the Marysville-Pilchuck area, and several of our people either have children in adjacent schools or know kids who go to that school," he said. "There's an emotional tie."
He says he's been monitoring the staff's well-being closely and will bring in counselors if needed. He says it is the victims' families that keep them going.
"The simple answer to this, the calling that medical investigators have, is that they know in the end that they're going to help someone through an absolute tragedy in their life," he said.
Christman also said he's gotten calls from medical examiner's offices all over the country, offering advice and support during both the Oso landslide and the Marysville shooting.
