He Was Accused of Killing His Wife. Idaho's Coroner System Let Clues Disappear After a Previous Death.

The Tragic Case of Betty Strong and the Flawed Death Investigation System in Idaho

Clayton Strong arrived at a small hospital in Idaho with his wife’s body in their SUV, claiming she had died of natural causes. This was an “unattended” death, meaning no doctor could confirm a medical reason for her passing. It fell to the coroner to determine the cause of death. However, the investigation that followed was anything but thorough.

The coroner, Cody Funke, who had recently taken on the role of Idaho County’s part-time coroner, examined Betty Strong’s frail body and concluded that her death was due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He allowed cremation without further scrutiny. At the time, this seemed like a straightforward case. But years later, as more details emerged, it became clear that the investigation missed critical clues.

Betty Strong’s children, including Amy Belanger, were deeply suspicious. They believed that a more thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding their mother’s death could have uncovered foul play. Their concerns were not unfounded. National experts who reviewed the case agreed that the coroner should have obtained medical records to verify the diagnosis of Parkinson’s and conducted a more detailed investigation of the scene where she died.

A System in Crisis

Idaho’s death investigation system has long been criticized for its lack of resources and oversight. Most county coroners are part-time officials with limited budgets and no formal training. This lack of structure leads to inconsistent and often inadequate investigations. The failure to reform these systems has raised alarms for over 70 years, with some calling Idaho “the best place in the nation for a criminal to ‘get away with murder’” due to its antiquated system.

One example of this flaw came in 2019 when an inexperienced coroner accepted the word of Chad Daybell that his wife had died of natural causes. Her body was later exhumed after his next wife’s children went missing. An autopsy revealed that she had been healthy, leading to Daybell’s conviction for murder. The coroner involved, Brenda Dye, admitted she would have ordered an autopsy if she had known better, but cited her limited training and lack of support as reasons for her decision.

The Impact of Underfunding and Lack of Standards

The situation is not unique to Idaho. Many states struggle with underfunded and understaffed death investigation systems. However, Idaho stands out for its low autopsy rates, especially in cases of suspected homicide. In 2016, the state ranked third-lowest in autopsies for all deaths and last in autopsies for known homicides.

Governor Brad Little pledged to support more resources for Idaho’s coroners, but recent legislation failed to include any funding or assistance for death investigations. As a result, each of Idaho’s 44 coroners must bear costs that other states help cover, such as transporting bodies for autopsies or hiring forensic pathologists.

Jennifer Snippen, a death investigator and consultant, emphasized that thorough investigations require proper funding and education. Without these, coroners may not have the tools or knowledge to conduct comprehensive examinations. She noted that elderly women, in particular, are often misclassified as dying from natural causes, even when abuse or neglect may be involved.

The Story of Betty Strong

Betty Strong’s life took a tragic turn when she met Clayton Strong. According to her daughter, Amy Belanger, Strong initially presented himself as a destitute man living in his car, appealing to Betty’s compassionate nature. Over time, he became a fixture in her life, isolating her from family and controlling her interactions with others.

Police reports from Florida show that there were multiple welfare checks and domestic disturbances involving Strong and Betty. Despite these red flags, no one questioned the sudden death of Betty in Idaho. When her body was found, the coroner ruled it a natural death based on Strong’s account.

The Aftermath and Lessons Learned

After Betty’s death, her family discovered that Strong had married another woman in Texas just months later. This revelation led them to investigate further, uncovering a disturbing pattern of behavior. Eventually, the second wife, Shirley Weatherley, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Strong was arrested and later died in custody while awaiting extradition for her murder.

Jamie Barrington, Weatherley’s son, believes that a more rigorous investigation into Betty’s death could have prevented her mother’s fate. He said that the current system in Idaho lacks accountability and fails to protect vulnerable individuals.

Cody Funke, the Idaho County coroner, admitted that his initial investigation was insufficient. He now acknowledges that he would have taken a different approach if given the chance, including following up on the death scene and using available databases to gather more information about Betty Strong.

Calls for Reform

The cases of Betty Strong and Shirley Weatherley highlight the urgent need for reform in Idaho’s death investigation system. Experts argue that without adequate funding, training, and oversight, such tragedies will continue to occur. Families like Belanger’s and Barrington’s are left searching for answers, unable to recover their loved ones’ belongings or gain closure.

As the story of Betty Strong’s death continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in death investigations. Only through systemic change can communities ensure that no one else suffers the same fate.