Duties of the Coroner

The mission of the Ross County Coroner's Office is to serve and protect the health and safety of the community by maintaining the highest standard of professionalism and integrity in determining the cause and manner of death. We are dedicated as a team to conduct independent investigations with the intent to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death are understood and explained. We seek to enhance the health, safety and well-being of the citizens and guests of Ross County.

The Ross County Coroner's Office has met all of the required standards and has been accredited by the International Association of Coroner's & Medical Examiners.

The duty of the Ross County Coroner's Office is to determine the Cause and Manner of each death in which this office assumes jurisdiction according to O.R.C. 313.

The Coroner will ensure that a death certificate is signed and a Coroner's report is generated for each death in which this office assumes jurisdiction. These items will become public record once the case is completed.

The Ross County Coroner’s Office is authorized by the laws of the State of Ohio to conduct independent investigations into sudden, unexpected, unnatural, suspicious, or violent death. The Ohio Legislature, by law, has chosen to separate the coroner’s office from law enforcement and has given the Coroner’s Office specific authority into the investigations of death.

The standard forensic (medical and legal) issues in a coroner’s Death Investigation Case require medical facts and often many non-medical facts that allow a conclusion to be made about the manner of death. Investigation by specially trained coroner investigators then becomes of paramount importance.

Some of the duties of the Ross County Coroner's Office include:

  • Determine the approximate date and time of death, as well as the cause and manner of death
  • Determine the need for an autopsy and / or toxicology
  • Photograph and document the scene
  • Preserve, process and collect evidence at the scene, including the interview of witnesses, family members, physicians, etc.
  • Removal of the body in a dignified manner with timely notification of next-of-kin
  • Sign and file death certificates
  • Respond and thoroughly investigate death scenes, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week

The Coroner’s Office interacts with family members, during and after the death investigation, to ensure an unbiased, accurate and thorough investigation. The Coroner’s Office also works closely with other agencies including law enforcement, governmental and health agencies, hospitals and funeral homes.

Training and education is an important issue with the Coroner’s Office. The office provides educational training, in the field of death investigation, to law enforcement, fire, health and community service agencies. The coroner and investigators also receive ongoing continuing education by attending death investigation, medical and forensic seminars.

Get in Touch with Us

Ross County, Ohio Coroner

(740) 775-7464

Address:
217 Delano Ave., Suite A
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Email:
rosscountycoroner@rosscountyohio.gov