William “John” Gardner

 

Age: 54 (Born 2043)
Occupation: Lead Coroner, Lone Star Seattle Homicide Division
Former Affiliations: UCAS Army Medical Corps (2059–2066), Seattle Public Health Department (2066–2072)
Marital Status: Married to Maria Gardner (since 2068)
Children: Evelyn “Evie” Gardner (b. 2070) and Christopher Gardner (b. 2072)
Current Residence: Lake Sammamish, Seattle Metroplex

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Professional History & Criminal Activities:

William “John” Gardner is a highly experienced forensic pathologist with over two decades in the field. Currently, he serves as a coroner for Lone Star’s Seattle division, a position that grants him access to some of the most confidential criminal investigations in the city. His official job is to determine causes of death, perform autopsies, and process evidence for homicide cases.

Unofficially, Gardner runs a lucrative side operation selling biological data, genetic samples, and high-fidelity neural scans from the deceased.

Side Business – Under-the-Table Deals:

• Genetic Data Sales – He supplies DNA samples and full genome maps to multiple interested buyers, including black-market cyberdocs, underground researchers, and at least one party in Tir Tairngire. Lone Star isn’t paying him enough, and there’s a high demand for “pristine” metahuman DNA.

• Neural Mapping & Experimental Research – He has been running unofficial neural degradation studies by scanning the brains of recently deceased metahumans, trying to capture post-mortem cognitive data. Some of this research may be tied to magical resonance effects in the dying brain, making it of potential interest to corporate magic divisions and arcano-biotech firms.

• Unclaimed Cyberware Theft – While not his main focus, Gardner has stripped cyberware from unclaimed bodies on occasion, selling valuable augmentations to street clinics, organ-leggers, or cyber-recyclers. This is standard fare for corrupt coroners, but his real money is in the bio-research trade.

Connections & Associates:

• Tir Tairngire Buyer (Codename: “Faolan”) – A Tir Tairngire-affiliated buyer has been purchasing high-quality metahuman DNA samples from Gardner for several years. Wizkid’s digging hasn’t confirmed if this is a corp or a government entity, but the transactions are heavily encrypted and routed through multiple offshore accounts.

• Seattle Underground Clinics – Several independent street docs rely on Gardner’s “extra inventory” for under-the-table cyberware installation. He takes a cut and ensures that nothing can be traced back to him.

• Lone Star Corruption – While he’s not an active participant in Lone Star’s internal corruption networks, Gardner turns a blind eye to certain cases in exchange for professional favors and ensuring that his own activities go unnoticed.

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Public & Matrix Presence:

• Lone Star employee profile is clean. No red flags, no reprimands, a stellar career record.
• Matrix presence is minimal. He uses strong security protocols and never accesses illegal transactions from his home or Lone Star systems.
• Rumors exist in underground forums about a corrupt coroner selling DNA samples, but no direct links to his real identity.

Final Analysis (Wizkid’s Notes):

The old man is dirty, but he’s smart about it. No flashy purchases, no luxury cars, no stupid risks. He’s running a slow-burn side hustle that keeps the money flowing but never draws too much heat. The Tir connection is weird, though—what do elves need all that high-grade metahuman DNA for?