Coroner's Office
The Coroner's Office assumes jurisdiction over human remains and, after a thorough investigation, determines the cause and manner of death. Jurisdiction is vested in the Coroner over all bodies who came to their death as described in Washington State Law. Deaths which come under the jurisdiction of the Coroner's Office include but are not limited to the following circumstances:
- Persons who die suddenly when in apparent good health and without medical attendance within thirty-six hours preceding death
- Circumstances which indicate death was caused in part or entirely by unnatural or unlawful means
- Suspicious circumstances
- Unknown or obscure causes
- Deaths caused by any violence whatsoever, whether the primary cause or any contributory factor in the death
- Contagious disease
- Unclaimed bodies
