Adair County Coroner

The Coroner is elected to serve by the citizens of Adair County for a term of 4 years.

The Coroner’s Office is a statutory office, which is mandated to establish the cause and manner of death. The Coroner works in cooperation with the law enforcement community, but conducts a separate and unbiased investigation. In this way, the criminal justice system is offered the best support. The public health dimension of the Coroner’s function is designed to isolate and identify causes of sudden unexpected death.

Types of Deaths Investigated

  • 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 Coroner 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)

Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 58 contains a complete description of the duties of the County Coroner.