Dr. Ross Reichert, chief medical examiner for Winona County and the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office, presented the office's 2024 annual report to the Winona County Board, summarizing investigations, autopsies and local patterns in deaths.

Reichert told commissioners the office reviewed about 328 deaths reported to them out of roughly 365 deaths in the county and performed 47 complete autopsies and nine external examinations in 2024. "We were involved and reviewed at least about 90 percent of the deaths within the county," Reichert said.

The report highlighted manners and causes of death: 42 accidental deaths, nine suicides and no homicides in 2024. Reichert said there were 16 drug-overdose deaths by cause; of those, 12 were ruled accidental, two suicides and two undetermined. He told the board eight fentanyl-related deaths were recorded last year, a rise from prior periods in the office's region.

Reichert also discussed accidental falls, which predominate in older age groups. He said falls were concentrated in assisted-living and long-term care settings and at residences: "We had seven in the decedent's residence, 11 in assisted living, two in a care facility," he said, adding that an aging population shifts the distribution of natural deaths upward.

On family consent and postmortem examinations, Reichert described the office practice and legal limits. Families may object to autopsy and the office works with relatives to accommodate religious or timing concerns; he said there is a statutory objection process and the office will seek county-attorney review when a compelling state interest exists.

Commissioners asked about age patterns for suicides and overdoses and whether Winona's demographics (including a college-age population) could affect rates. Reichert said some categories show younger victims than in neighboring counties and he questioned whether local population age structure explains part of that pattern. He also said overdose victims ranged widely in age and that many accidental overdoses involve highly potent synthetic opioids and mixed-drug exposures.

Reichert closed with operational figures: the office logged 262 investigations, performed 57 postmortem examinations and investigated 328 deaths in 2024. He recommended continued coordination with local public-health, law-enforcement and care facilities to identify prevention opportunities.

The board received the presentation and asked staff follow-up questions; no formal board action was recorded at the presentation's close.

Ending: The medical examiner urged commissioners to consider the report's public-health implications, especially overdose prevention and fall risk in congregate care, and to keep the office informed of any county requests for additional data or follow-up presentations.