County Coroner

North Dakota County Coroners are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for a term of five years. Eligibility for coroners are listed under NDCC 11-19.1-04. Coroners perform independent investigations but may consult with or arrange for autopsy with a forensic examiner.

Reportable deaths include:

• Obvious or suspected homicidal, suicidal, or accidental injury
• Firearm injury
• Severe, unexplained injury
• Occupant or pedestrian motor vehicle injury
• An injury to a minor
• Fire, chemical, electrical, or radiation
• Starvation
• Unidentified or skeletonized human remains
• Drowning
• Suffocation, smothering, or strangulation
• Poisoning or illegal drug use
• Prior child abuse or neglect assessment concerns
• Open child protection service case on the victim
• Victim is in the custody of the department of human services, county social services, the department of corrections and rehabilitation or other correctional facility, or law enforcement
• Unexplained death or death in an undetermined manner
• Suspected sexual assault
• Any other suspicious factor.
   

Responsibilities:

• Determine cause and manner of death
• Positively identify decedents
• Conduct on-scene investigations
• Order removal of the body
• Assist law enforcement with death notifications
• Request and review medical records
• Create reports that relate to deaths investigated by the coroner’s office
• Determine if an autopsy by consulting with a forensic medical examiner, if needed
• Collect toxicology samples
• Authorize disposition of remains
• Approve cremation forms
• Act as the central depository for county death records including the coroner's report, autopsy report, police investigative reports, medical records, photos and any other investigative agencies' reports
• Provide coroner reports to law enforcement agencies and next-of-kin
• Complete death certificates