Natrona County Chief Deputy Coroner Gary Hazen has been dismissed from his job, Coroner Dr. Jim Thorpen said Wednesday.

Thorpen could not confirm any details, and said County Attorney Eric Nelson was handling the matter.

Nelson's number was unavailable.

County Commissioner Jon Campbell also confirmed Hazen's termination, adding he and the other commissioners learned about it Tuesday.

Commissioners were not involved in the decision to terminate Hazen, Campbell said. He declined further comment.

"It's still an ongoing investigation," he said.

Hazen did not return calls seeking comment.

Reached Wednesday evening, Hazen's attorney, John Robinson, said he had not seen the severance letter nor had he talked with Hazen about the dismissal.

The county put Hazen on paid leave in early November after the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation revealed it was investigating allegations he had misappropriated property and illegally used drugs.

Affidavits accompanying search warrants later detailed interviews with nearly 20 law enforcement and other officials who described Hazen's confiscation of prescription drugs, pornography, cash, guns and other materials when he would investigate deaths at homes.

At least one interviewee alleged he used prescription medications of dead people, according to affidavits attached to the search warrants executed at Hazen's offices, the county morgue, county records storage, and his home, vehicle and person.

He has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been arrested as of Wednesday.

Hazen had been the county's full-time chief deputy coroner since 2002. Before that, he was a Casper police officer, Central Wyoming Crime Stoppers president, a Natrona County School District campus supervisor in the district's Safe Schools program, and a deputy coroner.

Contact reporter Tom Morton at (307) 266-5029 or Tom.Morton@trib.com