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1. When will the Coroner be called?

While there are guidelines governing coroner involvement in a death investigation, each case is handled individually. Generally, however, the Klickitat County Coroner's Office (KCCO) will be contacted by law enforcement or medical personnel when an individual has died suddenly and with no clear explanation or under suspicious circumstances. The KCCO will be involved in varying degrees, depending on the circumstances.

2. What does the Coroner do during a death investigation?

The KCCO involvement may be extensive or minimal, depending on the case. During a full death investigation, the KCCO will come to a death scene, take photos and video, interview witnesses, gather evidence and samples associated with the decedent, record measurements and body parameters and transport the body to the morgue. Following the scene investigation, the Klickitat County Coroner's Office (KCCO) will contact next of kin, request medical and other pertinent records, conduct an autopsy, submit toxicology samples, complete the investigation with a comprehensive report, and if requested, discuss this report with family. In addition, certain cases may dictate radiographs, computer simulations, total scene documentation, and clinical pathology analysis. Forensic specialists, such as anthropologists and deontologists, may be called in as necessary. KCCO contracts with a medical examiner to handle autopsies, sample collection and toxicology.

3. When is an autopsy necessary?

The Klickitat County Coroner's Office (KCCO) has set up a framework from which the decision to autopsy is made by KCCO personnel. Actual situations may require variance from this outline. Autopsies may be required due to circumstance or age; autopsy by circumstance always overrides autopsy by age. An autopsy will be performed for any death surrounded by suspicious circumstances to include any possibility of homicide, suicide, accident, occupational hazard contributing to the cause of death as well as any death occurring while the decedent was in custody, law enforcement or otherwise, and any stillborn with possibility of neglect or criminality.

4. How long does a death investigation take?

A full death investigation can take several months, depending on the nature of the death. This can be frustrating for the family and friends of the decedent because they want closure with their case. While we work expeditiously to complete each case, we must rely on outside agencies for some of our work, like toxicology, which requires extra time.

5. Who is the next of kin (NOK)?

Next of kin is recognized in the State of Washington in the following order: spouse, adult children (over 18 years of age), parents, siblings, and then grandparents.

6. At what level of certainty are we responsible for making our determinations of cause and manner of death?

Our determinations are held to the level of preponderance. This means that we must have more than 50% probability to make a determination of the cause and manner of death.

7. How long does the Coroner keep a record of a death investigation, and how can I get a copy of my loved one's report?

Death investigation reports have been maintained by the Klickitat County Coroner's Office (KCCO) since the inception of the office. They have become considerably more comprehensive, but with technology, they have become easily accessible. We will continue to maintain a report on every KCCO case indefinitely. Immediate family can have access to our report but may be required to show proof of relationship.

8. Who is authorized to view our reports?

Immediate family, law enforcement having jurisdiction, prosecutor's office having jurisdiction, attending medical personnel, and in certain cases public health officials and labor and industry representatives. Insurance companies and attorneys do not have direct access to our reports and must be authorized by the family of the decedent.

To request a copy of a report, please complete and submit our Request for Confidential Reports (PDF).

9. Where do I get a certified death certificate for a loved one who has died?

The Klickitat County Coroner's Office does not provide certified death certificates to families. Although we keep a photocopy of the final death certificate, certified copies cannot be ordered through our office. We are one step in the process of completing the final death certificate. Ultimately, the completed death certificates are filed by funeral personnel with the County Registrar in the Klickitat County Department of Health at 509-773-4565.

10. What do I do if I find bones in the woods?

If you find bones in the woods or elsewhere, please contact local law enforcement or our office. Law enforcement will contact the Klickitat County Coroner's Office if necessary, and we will determine the nature of the remains (human or animal, ancient or modern, etc.).

11. Who handles Native American Remains?

When the Klickitat County Coroner's Office determines that remains are Native American, jurisdiction is immediately turned over to the appropriate tribe for proper disposition. Please respect the Native American culture by contacting law enforcement or our office promptly upon discovering remains. Do not keep remains. It is not only disrespectful, but it is also illegal.