Page 77 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

When first heard, a coroner or medical examiner is often associated with the autopsy – which is one
component of the death / SBI investigation, and only a small percentage of deaths are autopsied. The

forensic autopsy is conducted by a board certified forensic pathologist and autopsy technician assisting. In
addition, there are exceptions to every protocol, and jurisdictional policies will differ. Two important

considerations are:

1. The medical examiner’s office is an independent, often law enforcement based, agency which is
supposed to be neutral as to their findings; they conduct separate investigations; and
2. These investigations are often concurrent and cooperative investigations between the medical

examiner’s office and the law enforcement agency.

Coroner / ME Duties

The investigator (most often a deputy coroner / medicolegal death investigator) will conduct their
investigation similar to law enforcement, with specific purposes: any evidence to determine Cause of Death

and Manner of Death; and decedent identification. Because the CFDI may be involved in the investigation
of a non-fatal event, Serious Bodily Injury (SBI), the medical examiner’s office will not be involved – a hospital

or other healthcare facility may be. However, the same processes should be considered in the review,
analysis and investigation when applied to the law enforcement investigation and healthcare facility. The

CFDI will consider other variables – such as there will not be an autopsy, but there will be medical records.
The following are more specific to the medical examiner investigation:
• Assess and document evidence of the body for injuries and absence of injuries;

• Assess and document evidence of the body for position, lividity, temperature, rigor mortis, and any

decomposition;
• Secure the body as evidence and transport for autopsy, or release if no autopsy or suspicious

circumstances;
• Determine decedent identification, obtain social history and records, medical history and records,

and law enforcement history and records; and
• Conduct any investigative tasks to determine Cause and Manner of Death (COD and MOD), and Time

of Death (TOD).

Coroner / ME Records to Request and Review

From the medical examiner’s office, either through discovery from the prosecution or by direct request,
should be received and reviewed:

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