Ex-Deputy Coroner Charged With Official Misconduct, Eavesdropping

WAUKEGAN, IL — A former employee of the Lake County Coroner's Office was indicted Wednesday on a trio of felony counts stemming from the allegation that she illegally recorded a minor during a death notification nearly three years ago.

Dana A. Dingman, 36, of Grayslake, faces one count of official misconduct, a class 3 felony, and two counts of eavesdropping, a class 4 felony, according to her indictment. All three charges relate to the same July 2018 incident, which authorities described as an isolated one.

In April, office staff in the coroner's office discovered a video saved on a deputy coroner's county-owned laptop that showed Dingman notifying a family member of their relative's recent death, according to representatives of the Lake County coroner's and sheriff's offices.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek contacted the sheriff's office and the state's attorney's office immediately after finding the video to open a criminal investigation, according to her office.

“I am appalled at the discovery of this video," Banek said. "There is no reason for the employee in question to have violated the public’s trust by surreptitiously recording them during such an emotional and private moment."

According to the indictment, Dingman used a cellphone "in a surreptitious manner" to record a private conversation with both the minor and the minor's employer at their place of work on July 13, 2018 — and she knew that she was forbidden to record the minor.

Lake County Sheriff's Office Lt. Chris Covelli said investigators spoke with the people shown in the video and confirmed it had been recorded without their knowledge.

"Further analysis of that video shows it was likely recorded with a personal cell phone of Dingman's," Covelli said.

Detectives also tried to interview Dingman to get her side of the story, according to the sheriff's office spokesperson.

"She was given the opportunity to provide a statement," he said.

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Dingman started with the coroner's office in January 2017 under Banek's predecessor, Howard Cooper. Dingman was fired on June 17, according to the coroner's office.

The month after Dingman started as a deputy coroner, Cooper's predecessor, Dr. Thomas Rudd, was himself indicted on perjury charges.

Rudd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor election code violations in March 2018 and was banned from public office for five years as part of the deal.

Dingman could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. She is due to appear to appear in court for an arraignment on July 22.

Investigators conducted a forensic examination of Dingman's county-owned computer but appear not to have sought a warrant for her personal electronic devices.

No additional illegal recordings had been found as of Wednesday, according to the coroner.

“Finding out a loved one has died is a family’s worst moments," Banek said, "and our staff is expected to conduct their duties with the utmost care, respect and compassion.”