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Family questions coroner handling; county attorney cites state coroner statute
Summary
At the Aug. 6 meeting, Joan Mann and Adrian Foote expressed dissatisfaction with the sheriff's handling of a deceased family member; State's Attorney Wade Enget cited N.D.C.C. 11-19.1 on coroner appointment and eligibility, and the minutes record a community letter noting funeral directors decline coroner duties.
At 9:30 a.m. family members Joan Mann and Adrian Foote told the board they were not satisfied with Sheriff Corey Bristol’s handling and removal of their deceased family member. The minutes say the family raised concerns about how the situation was handled and asked whether a funeral home could serve as coroner.
State's Attorney Wade Enget cited North Dakota Century Code 11-19.1-04(1)(d) on coroner eligibility and said funeral directors could be eligible under the statute. The minutes also reference a letter from Justina Langhans that reads in part: "It was once common for the funeral director to act as the coroner; we do not want the responsibility or liability that comes with acting as a coroner (handling the funeral and determining the cause of death)." The board discussed the matter and Comm. DeGroot met privately with the family, per the minutes.
