KY deputy coroner resigned amid misconduct claims. Now he’s running for coroner
A former Franklin County deputy coroner forced to resign last year amid accusations of misconduct is now running against his former boss.
Elliott S. Moore, 25, resigned in November after Georgetown police say he was caught kissing at least one woman inside his government vehicle at a Scott County boat dock.
He was also placed on 90-day probation two years ago for a separate incident in which he sent “inappropriate” messages to relatives of a family for whom the coroner’s office provided services.
But on Jan. 9, Moore filed to run against his former boss, Will Harrod, who requested Moore’s resignation Nov. 14, 2025, two days after the incident at the Georgetown boat dock.
Moore did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Officer: Moore found with 2 women, kissing inside government vehicle
The latest incident began when Georgetown police noticed a coroner’s vehicle parked at the Cardome Boat Ramp, on North Elkhorn Creek, around 1 a.m. Nov. 12, according to a police report obtained by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act.
Moore got out of the vehicle when the officer pulled up, according to the police report, and told the officer he was a deputy coroner. Two women were inside Moore’s vehicle.
The officer left when Moore identified himself.
“I told them the park was closed and went on my way,” the officer wrote.
The officer reported the incident to a sergeant, however, who had officers put Moore in contact with investigators.
Moore told officers he made a mistake going to the boat ramp with the women, one of whom he met on a dating app.
Investigators interviewed the women. One said she and Moore were kissing in the back seat of the coroner’s vehicle. She said Moore panicked when he saw the officer approach and said he worried he would lose his job.
“A call is going to be put in ... to the coroner of Franklin County advising him what had happened with one of his deputies in Scott County and that one of their government vehicles was facilitating it all,” the police report reads.
Police decline to pursue charges
According to the police report, officers considered second-degree official misconduct charges against Moore but declined to pursue them for lack of sufficient probable cause.
Two days after the incident, Harrod, the coroner, requested Moore’s resignation.
In his resignation letter, Moore said he was thankful to have the opportunity to work with the coroner’s office.
Harrod confirmed to the Herald-Leader that Moore no longer worked in the office but declined further comment.
According to Moore’s personnel file, obtained by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act, the boat ramp incident wasn’t his first reprimand.
In November 2023, Moore was questioned by Harrod after a family reported that Moore had sent inappropriate messages on social media to “girls related to families served.”
TThe personnel file does not include any further information about the content or recipients of the messages.
Moore admitted to sending the messages and apologized.
He was placed on 90-day probation beginning Nov. 24, 2023.
Moore launches campaign for coroner
Moore has lived in Franklin County since 2020 and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, according to his campaign Facebook page.
He said his three years working with the coroner’s office allowed him to perform investigations, get to know Frankfort residents and “have a coroner available to support those they serve.”
He filed to run as a Republican.
“What I lack in my years of experience, I make up for in care and compassion for those who interact with the officer of the coroner,” Moore wrote.
Harrod is the incumbent Democratic candidate in the May primary election. He has served since January 2022, and he worked as deputy coroner under his father, who served as county coroner for 40 years.
