§ 7-4-201 — Reports of death; investigation; summoning of jurors; fees and costs; inspection of medical records

Wyoming § 7-4-201

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 07: Criminal Procedure
• Ch. 4: COUNTY CORONERS
• Art. 2: INQUESTS

Text

(a) When any person is found dead and the death appears to
have occurred under circumstances indicating the death is a
coroner's case, the person who discovers the death shall report
it immediately to law enforcement authorities who shall in turn
notify the coroner. A person who knowingly violates this
section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment
for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven
hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
(b) When the coroner is notified that the dead body of any
person has been found within the limits of the county or that
the death resulted from injury sustained within the county and
he suspects that the death is a coroner's case, he shall conduct
an investigation which may include:
(i) An examination of the body and an investigation
into the medical history of the case;
(ii) The appointment of a qualified physician to
assist in determining the cause of death;
(iii) An autopsy if the physician appointed to assist
the coroner under this subsection determines an autopsy is
necessary;
(iv) An inquest; or
(v) Any other reasonable procedure which may be
necessary to determine the cause of death.
(c) If the coroner determines to hold an inquest he shall
summon three (3) citizens of the county to appear before him to
act as jurors at the time and place named. The jurors shall
receive the same fee paid jurors in district court as provided
in W.S. 1-11-303 and per diem and travel expenses in the same
manner as state employees. The coroner may furnish
transportation for the jury and witnesses to and from the place
of inquest and for the removal of the dead body.
(d) If a coroner determines the injuries which caused the
person's death were received in a county other than that in
which the body was found, he shall transfer authority for the
investigation and inquest to the coroner for that county.
(e) The expense and costs of conducting the investigation
or holding the inquest shall be paid by the county in which the
injuries were received. The accounts of the claimants shall be
attested by the coroner or acting coroner, and shall be
presented in duplicate to the board of county commissioners of
the proper county. If the board of county commissioners finds
that the inquest was necessary and in accordance with law, and
the accounts are correct and just, the accounts shall be paid in
warrants properly drawn upon the order of the county
commissioners.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, the coroner may inspect medical and psychological data
relating to the person whose death is being investigated if the
coroner determines the information is relevant and necessary to
the investigation.