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The autopsy report by the Center for Forensic Medicine in Nashville concluded that the Tuesday, April 2 death of the late County Mayor Judd Matheny was accidental, caused by drugs present in his system, compounded by heart conditions.

According to the report signed by the assistant medical examiner, Dr. Christopher Geffre, Matheny’s cause of death is “ascribed to mixed cocaine, ethanol, mitragynine toxicity with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as a significant contributing factor.”

According to the toxicology report, Matheny had 210 ng/ml of cocaine in his system, 45 mg/dl of ethanol and 130 ng/ml of mitragynine (also known commercially as Kratom). These were accompanied by the presence of several prescription drugs used to treat various medical conditions.

According to the report, Kratom originates in Asia and its use can result in a stimulant-type effect at low doses or an opioid-type effect at higher doses. Side effects can include seizures, psychosis and liver toxicity.

The autopsy states that Matheny had moderate atherosclerosis (the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances) on the coronary arteries, mild atherosclerosis of the aorta and hypertrophy in the left ventricle with cardiomegaly (enlarged heart).

The autopsy cites a report by first responders who found Matheny at his residence around noon on April 2 in the back seat with the car running and the air conditioning turned on. According to the reported condition of the body, Matheny had likely deceased for several hours prior to being discovered.   

The mayor was reported to have spoken with an employee around 6 p.m., April 1 who noted nothing unusual concerning Matheny’s condition or health.

Matheny was serving his first term as Coffee County mayor after being elected in 2022. Prior to that time, Matheny, a businessman and farmer, had served Coffee and Warren County in the State House as State Representative for several terms and served as General Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. Matheny was 53 at the time of his passing.

District Attorney Craig Northcott said via email that “the investigation into this is still open. I will not be able to make any prosecutorial decisions on where the investigation will lead until I receive the final autopsy report and am able to review it.” 

A representative from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also said  that death investigation remains ongoing.

“Due to the active nature of this investigation, we’re not able to provide any additional information at this time,”  TBI Senior Public Information Officer Susan Niland said in an email.