Dr. Steven Fletcher, MD
Marion County Medical Examiner
Biography:
Coming soon!
Charles Funrue
Chief Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Charles Funrue is the Chief Medical Legal Death Investigator from Salem, Oregon. Charles has served the Willamette Valley for 25 years as a Paramedic. He graduated Chemeketa Community College with his degree in Emergency Medical Services. Charles also has college education in criminal justice, constitutional law, psychology, and forensics. Charles lives in Salem with his wife and three children.
Penny Woods, BS, ABMDI-D
Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Penny Woods has been an investigator with the Marion County Medical Examiner's Office since July of 2020. Her professional experience primarily includes law enforcement and crime scene investigation. She holds a bachelor's degree in Investigative Forensics from the University of Maryland-GC. She became an Oregon-certified Medicolegal Death Investigator in 2020 and obtained her national certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) in 2024. Penny lives with her husband and their fur children: a cat named Winnie, and two Miniature Australian Shepherds: Rusty and Willow.
Karly Mirgel
Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Karly Mirgel has been an investigator with Marion County Medical Examiner’s office since January 2025. Karly has a 20-year background in EMS. Karly attended Berufsbildende Schule Bad-Neuendahr-Ahrweiler in Germany for a Funeral Services degree. Karly lives in Salem with her children and enjoys concerts and bowling in her free time.
Jennifer Canaga-Phillis
Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Jennifer Canaga-Phillis has been an investigator with the Marion County Medical Examiners office since May of 2024, she comes from an Emergency Service background with 22 years in EMS and 18 as a Paramedic. She obtained an associate degree in Applied Science through Chemeketa and is an Oregon-certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. Jen lives in Marion County with her husband and daughter.
Bob Jung
Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Robert Jung attended Chemeketa Community College graduating in 1976 with an Associate of Science degree in Fire Protection Technology. He worked for Marion County Fire District #1 from 1976 to 2009, retiring as the Assistant Chief of the department. He immediately started working for the Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office as an investigator. He is certified from the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office as a Medicolegal Death Investigator. He has three grown children and four granddaughters.
Lisa Lewis
Medical-Legal Death Investigator
Biography:
Lisa Lewis is an experienced Medical Legal Death Investigator for Marion County. She is also a seasoned Registered Nurse who works in a busy Intensive Care Unit in the community with advanced credentialing in Critical Care and Trauma. She is a valued member the ICU team by acting as a Charge Nurse as well as a member of the hospital's Rapid Response Team. Prior to her industrious nursing career, Lisa was a dancer and choreographer and performed and traveled with a troupe in Los Angeles for several years. Lisa continues to enjoy many different venues of dancing for recreation. Lisa also competed with a local women's roller derby league enjoying the camaraderie, physicality and athleticism aspect of the sport.
Melissa Harris
Legal Assistant
Biography: Melissa started her career in administration in southern Utah in 2013. She worked for Ken Bettridge distribution. She started as the front desk receptionist and then moved up to the Accounts Receivable Specialist. Melissa moved to Oregon in 2021 and in 2023 she joined the law firm Olsen Daines as a Legal Receptionist. With her legal experience, she joined the Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office in 2025.
