Site last updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Jurors in Wecht trial to be listed

Pathologist faces fraud charges

PITTSBURGH — Attorneys began jury selection Thursday in the fraud trial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht, nearly two years after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges that he used his former government staff to benefit his famous, multimillion-dollar private practice.

Sixty people in the jury pool were summoned to fill out questionnaires designed to reveal any biases or connections they may have to parties in the case. The surveys also asked for information about personal preferences the attorneys believed might be relevant.

Among the more unusual questions, jurors were asked to name their favorite TV shows and movies, and to describe any bumper stickers on their cars.

Wecht, 76, resigned from his position as the Allegheny County medical examiner and coroner after being indicted on Jan. 20, 2006.

Wecht is famous for investigating or consulting on the deaths of Elvis Presley, JonBenet Ramsey and others, and remains a pundit and expert on high-profile cases. He also conducts autopsies-for-hire in several Pennsylvania counties.

Lawyers were expected to pick the jury through next week at least, with pools of 60 jurors already summoned to appear Monday and Wednesday.

Because of a federal appeal brought by Pittsburgh media outlets, the names of the jurors questioned must be made public before trial testimony begins Jan. 28.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab originally wanted to seat an anonymous jury to protect their impartiality in the high-profile case. He later agreed to permit attorneys only to know the names of the final 40 in the jury pool so they could eliminate anyone connected to Wecht's past cases.

More in Pennsylvania News

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS