Medical examiner reports rising caseload and drug‑related deaths; autopsy costs to rise

Dr. Meno, Jackson County medical examiner, briefed the Human Services Committee on caseload trends, drug‑related deaths and personnel and cost issues.

He reported the number of death investigations rose through July and projected 690–700 deaths reported to the office by year end. As of July the office had completed 114 autopsies year to date and projected roughly 195–200 autopsies by year end. He said the office is performing autopsies on roughly 28% of investigated deaths and that most investigations involve older adults (84% of investigated deaths over age 50).

On drug deaths, Dr. Meno said the office has recorded 22 drug‑related deaths so far in 2025 and that the majority of those cases involved middle‑age and older adults rather than only younger populations. He told the committee fentanyl was detected in multiple cases and that prescription drugs were the largest single category appearing in toxicology results; he cautioned the manner of death for drug cases is often indeterminate unless the history and investigation support a specific finding.

He also told the committee the contracted forensic pathologist has informed the office that autopsy fees will increase from $1,200 per case to $1,500 per case; Dr. Meno said staff will survey other counties and try to negotiate rates. He described ongoing training and outreach, including tours of the morgue for emergency medicine residents and an upcoming field-investigator conference; he said he will travel to an international conference later in the month to speak on mass-gathering medicine.

Commissioners voted by voice to receive the medical examiner’s report.