The State - News from Sept. 23, 1987

An Alameda County coroner’s deputy was arraigned in Municipal Court on charges that he stole a dead man’s watch and automated teller machine card. Authorities said Kenneth P. McDonald, 37, used the card for $3,000 in transactions. Judge Jeffrey Allen lowered his bail from $50,000 to $10,000 and ordered him to return Monday to enter a plea. The deputy was arrested at the coroner’s office in Oakland on Thursday on six counts of grand theft, possession of stolen property and computer fraud. Investigators said McDonald was also under investigation for possible thefts in at least three other cities in the county. Alameda police said McDonald stole the watch and card from one of two men who died in a double suicide Aug. 24. Coroner George Comte said the deputy, a six-month employee, was relieved of duty pending an Oct. 2 termination.