Investigation process
Investigation flow chart
Event that leads law enforcement or paramedics to respond.
Coroner’s office notified and responds to the scene.
Coroner’s office inquiry: witness/family/friend interviews and initial body examination.
Coroner’s office investigators take the decedent into their care to transport to the Coroner’s office in Silt, CO. Investigators will then determine if an autopsy or external examination will take place.
During any of the previous steps, the family can start contacting funeral homes and making final arrangement decisions. See page 14 for more information.
Family can contact the Coroner’s Office to arrange a date and time to retrieve any personal effects that were collected by investigators.
Investigation outline
1. Event that leads law enforcement or paramedics to respond.
2. Coroner’s Office notified and respond to the scene.
3. Coroner’s Office Inquiry: During this step investigators will be speaking with family/friends/witnesses to inquiry about medical and social history as well as details about the events leading up to the incident. The initial examination of the deceased will take place during this time and investigators will also capture photographs of the scene. If warranted, investigators may collect personal effects, evidence, and medications.
4. Investigators with then take the decedent into their care and transport the deceased to the Garfield County Coroner’s Office.
5. Coroner’s Office Investigators will then determine if an autopsy will or will not need to be performed.
a. If an autopsy is warranted, it will occur within 1-3 business days after initial inquiry. Medical records will also be reviewed.
i. Complete autopsy and toxicology results may take 4-8 weeks. We understand and acknowledge that it may be difficult to wait that long, however, we assure you we are being as thorough as possible.
b. If an autopsy is not warranted, investigators will perform an in-depth external examination, medical records review, and cause of death input from either a primary care physician, attending physician, or forensic pathologist.
i. Input and completion of records review usually takes 1-2 weeks.
6. During any of the previous steps, the next of kin can start contacting funeral homes and making final arrangement decisions. See page 14 for more information on funeral homes.
a. If the deceased had an autopsy, they may be transferred to the care of a funeral home directly after the autopsy is performed.
b. If the deceased did not have an autopsy, their care can be transferred to a funeral home usually in 2-3 business days following the initial inquiry.
7. Family can contact the Coroner’s office to arrange a date and time to retrieve any personal effects that were collected by investigators. This may occur shortly after the initial inquiry, however, there may be circumstances that warrant the coroner’s office to safe keep items for a longer period.