Coroner warns a single out-of-state autopsy drove higher county charges

Justin, speaking during the elected-officials report, said the coroner's office has seen an unusually high caseload and described a recent charge of about $5,400 tied to an out-of-state prison autopsy. He said the coroner for the prison orders the autopsy and typically bills the prison, which in turn can result in the originating county receiving the charge under the timing rules on the IDOC website and applicable state procedures.

"Anybody that's out of the state prison, they get autopsied regardless," Justin said, explaining the process and that private-pathologist charges and use of labs outside state contracts can make those fees substantially higher than the county's standard autopsy costs. He noted that his office's standard in-state autopsy costs are lower and that this particular bill landed on Warren County because the inmate's sentencing/timing made Warren County the originating county by statute/IDOC timing.

Council members asked clarifying questions about timing and billing; Justin said insurance and regular revenue lines help, but the one-time charge impacts the current-year appropriations and was included in the additional-appropriation request the council approved earlier in the meeting.

The meeting transcript records Justin explaining the billing path and listing the roughly $5,400 amount as an out-of-pocket charge resulting from how the prison and pathologist billed the case. The council approved an appropriation covering the item as part of a broader package of additional funds.