Coroner Duties
To Investigate Certain Types of Deaths:
- Homicide
- Suicide
- Accidental
- Criminal Abortions (including those self-induced)
- Unforeseen Sudden Occurrence (not seen by physician 36 hours preceding death)
- Custody Deaths (while in custody of law enforcement)
- Penal Deaths (lethal injection / legal execution)
- Child Deaths (under age of 18)
- Unusual or Suspicious Manner Deaths
- Occur in Non-licensed Health Care Facilities (hospice type)
- Occur in Licensed Health Care Facilities (nursing home / residential care)
Other Duties
- To be Conservator of Peace (throughout his or her county)
- To Execute Process When Sheriff Disqualified (when sheriff is a party / involved)
- To Perform Duties of Sheriff When Office is Vacant (by death or otherwise)
- To Hold Coroner’s Inquest / Coroner’s Jury
- To Issue Warrant to Summon Coroner’s Jury (coroner inquest)
- Coroner to Administer Oath to Jurors
- Coroner to Issue Subpoenas (witnesses)
- Order Postmortem Examination (autopsy)
- Certify Cause and Manner of Death (death certificate)
- Order Blood Sample Test for Alcohol & Drug Content (all motor vehicle fatalities)
- Report Toxicology results in writing to Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Procure Organ Donations (procurement of cadaver organ and tissue donation)