A coroner is a public official, appointed or elected, in a particular
geographic jurisdiction, whose official duty is to investigate deaths under
circumstances specific by statute (KRS 72). The role of the Kentucky Coroner
crosses boundaries, and encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities ranging from
law enforcement to public health.
The Calloway County Coroner:
Ricky Garland:
701 Olive St.
Murray, Ky 42071
270-759-9770
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FAQs:
72.020 Duty of person, hospital, or instution finding or possessing
dead body -- Duties of coroner, law enforcement officer, embalmer, funeral
director, or ambulance service:
- Any person, hospital, or instution, finding or having possession
of the body of any person whose death occurred under any of the circumstances
defined in subsections (1) through (12) of KRS
72.025, shall immediately notify the coroner, or his deputy, and a
law enforcement agency, which shall report to the scene within a
reasonable time. No person shall remove the body or remove
anything from the body until directed to do so by the coroner or his deputy,
after the law enforcemet angency is present or has failed,
within a reasonable period of time, to respond.
- The coroner shall take possession of any objects, medical
specimens, or articles which, in his opinion, may be helpful in
establishing the cause of death, and he can make or cause to be made such tests
and examinations of said objects as may be necessary or useful in determining the cause of death. In the event
that a crminal prosecution arises, all such objects and articles together with reports of any examinations
made upon them, shall
be retained by the coroner until their production in evidence is
required by the prosecuting authority, unless otherwise directed by
written order of the court in which such prosecution is pending.
- Upon final disposition of each criminal prosecution under this
section, the court shall by appropriate written order dispose of all
objects retained under the porvisions of this section.
- If the law enforcement officer at the scene has probable cause to believe that one of the conditions in subsection
(1) of this section exists and the coroner refuses to require a post-mortem
examination, the officer shall immediately notify the county or
Commonwealth attorney who may proceed pursuant to KRS 72.445
- In all cases listed under KRS 72.025 in which a licensed
embalmer, funeral director, or ambulance service is notified and is the first person at the scene of death other than private
citizens, he shall notify the coroner and if the death appears to fall within the
categories established in subsections (1) through (12) KRS 72.025, he shall notify
a local law enforcement agency.