Medical Examiner
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office provides death investigation services for cases involving sudden, violent, unexpected, or suspicious deaths in the county. This article explains the role of the Medical Examiner, how investigations work, how families can handle personal effects and records requests, where to find official information, and which office contacts are available for assistance.
The Medical Examiner’s Role
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) provides trained medical evaluation during investigations of deaths that may affect public health, safety, and community welfare. The office investigates deaths that fall under its authority and works to determine the cause and manner of death, identify deceased individuals, and notify next of kin.
The Medical Examiner’s Office investigates several types of deaths, including sudden deaths involving people who appeared to be in good health, deaths without medical attendance within thirty-six hours before death, deaths caused by violence, deaths involving suspicious circumstances, deaths with unknown or unclear causes, contagious disease-related deaths, and unclaimed bodies.
The office’s work includes medical examinations, forensic investigations, and coordination with families and other agencies. Each decedent is treated with dignity and respect, while families receive information and support during the investigation process. More information about the agency’s responsibilities is available through the role of the Medical Examiner.
When the Office Investigates
The Medical Examiner does not investigate every death that occurs in the county. Its jurisdiction focuses on deaths that are sudden, violent, unexpected, or suspicious.
When a death requires Medical Examiner involvement, investigators may respond to the location of death, gather information, document the circumstances, collect evidence when necessary, and transport the decedent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for additional examination.
The investigation may include an examination performed by a qualified Medical Examiner physician. Depending on the circumstances, the examination may or may not include an autopsy. An autopsy is performed when needed to determine the cause and manner of death.
Family Investigation Process
The investigation process can require several steps from family members. The Medical Examiner’s Office provides guidance to help families understand their responsibilities during this time.
Families may need to complete the following steps:
Designate a primary contact person for the family.
Provide contact information for that person to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Select a funeral home or crematory.
Inform the Medical Examiner’s Office of the selected funeral provider.
Obtain a copy of the death certificate from the funeral home or King County Vital Statistics.
The body is transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office when an investigation requires additional examination. The office is located on the Harborview Medical Center Campus in Seattle. After the examination is complete, the body is released to the family’s designated funeral provider.
Families may contact the Medical Examiner’s Office during the investigation process to ask about procedures or request information about investigation and examination findings.
Personal Effects Release
During a Medical Examiner investigation, personal belongings may be collected from the death scene and returned to the Medical Examiner’s Office for inventory and storage.
Personal effects collected during a Medical Examiner investigation are released to the family’s designated funeral home. Families should select a funeral home within three days to coordinate the release of the decedent and personal effects.
Clothing worn by the decedent at the time of death is generally stored separately and released with the decedent unless it has been retained as evidence by law enforcement. Families who want to keep clothing items should contact the funeral home before the decedent is picked up.
The Medical Examiner’s Office does not release evidence related to a death investigation, such as weapons or other items retained as evidence. Those items remain under the control of the investigating law enforcement agency.
Medical Examiner Records Requests
The Medical Examiner’s Office provides access to autopsy reports and investigator reports through its records request process. These reports provide different types of information.
An autopsy report contains medical findings, including the cause and manner of death.
An investigator report contains field investigation findings from the death scene.
To request an autopsy or investigator report, a family member of the deceased must complete the records request form and provide a copy of legal photo identification. Requests can be submitted by email to admin.meo@kingcounty.gov.
After a request is reviewed, the office sends an electronic payment link by email or text based on the information provided in the request form. Accepted payment methods include debit cards, credit cards, e-checks, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, and PayPal. Additional transaction fees may apply.
The Medical Examiner’s Office has suspended in-person service for records requests. Questions about requests can be directed to the office by phone.
Report Availability and Timing
Some Medical Examiner reports may require additional time before they are available. For current cases, the typical turnaround time for records requests is four to six months. For completed cases, processing generally takes three to five business days.
Archived records requests may involve older cases dating back to the late 1800s. The available materials vary depending on the year of death and type of investigation. Requests for archived records require a completed archived records request form and a photocopy of the decedent’s death certificate.
Third-party requests, such as requests from an insurance company or attorney, require additional authorization from the legal next of kin or personal representative along with the required request documents.
Decedent Case Information
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office publishes decedent case information after investigations are completed. These lists are released on weekday afternoons, excluding holidays.
The published information may include:
Case number
Name
Age and sex
City of death
Date of death
Date of incident
Incident location
Cause of death
Manner of death
Investigating agency
Cases are released only after the decedent has been identified and next of kin has been notified, or after the required waiting period when next of kin cannot be located. The Medical Examiner decedent lists provide official case information released by the office.
DNA and Genetic Testing Requests
The Medical Examiner’s Office may receive requests for blood or tissue samples for DNA or genetic testing. Samples collected during an autopsy may be preserved to assist with testing requests after a case is completed.
Requests for specimen release must be submitted in writing by an authorized person, including the legal next of kin, personal representative, legal subpoena holder, or someone with a court order.
The legal next of kin or authorized representative must complete the required authorization process. Samples are released directly to the testing agency according to its submission requirements.
Unidentified Remains Assistance
The Medical Examiner’s Office works to identify individuals whose remains have not been identified. Public assistance may help connect information about unidentified remains with missing persons cases.
People with information about unidentified remains cases can contact the Medical Examiner’s Office. Individuals who know someone who has gone missing should report the missing person so information can be used when identification efforts are conducted.
Information about unidentified remains cases is available through the Unidentified Remains information page.
Death Certificates and Vital Records
The Medical Examiner’s Office does not issue death certificates. For instructions on ordering a death certificate for someone who died in King County or Washington state, residents should use the King County Vital Records process.
Death certificates are separate from Medical Examiner investigation reports. Requests for death certificates and requests for autopsy or investigator reports follow different processes.
Disposition Authorization
The Medical Examiner’s Office reviews deaths through the Disposition Authorization program. This review helps ensure that deaths requiring investigation are identified before final disposition.
The program reviews the cause and manner of death information listed on death certificates. Funeral homes use this process when requesting authorization related to disposition of a body.
Requests are submitted by funeral homes with required documentation. The Medical Examiner’s Office provides specific instructions for funeral providers regarding required records and submission procedures.
Office Contact Information
The Medical Examiner’s Office provides separate contact options for administrative questions and medicolegal death investigations. Administrative office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding King County holidays. Medicolegal death investigation services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Relevant Departments and Offices
King County Medical Examiner's Office
325 9th Avenue, Box 359792
Seattle, WA 98104-2499
Phone: 206-731-3232
Medical Examiner FAQs
How can families follow the investigation process after a death?
Families can review the investigation guide for family and friends of the deceased to understand the steps involved after a case is referred to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. The process may include information gathering, examination procedures, and coordination with the family’s chosen funeral home or crematory. Families can also use the guide to understand their responsibilities during the investigation.
How do I request a King County Medical Examiner report?
Requests for autopsy reports and investigator reports must follow the official records request process. A family member of the deceased may request these records by completing the required form and providing legal photo identification. The Medical Examiner records request page explains the difference between autopsy reports, which contain medical findings, and investigator reports, which contain scene investigation findings.
What happens to personal belongings collected during an investigation?
Personal effects collected during a Medical Examiner investigation are inventoried and stored before being released to the family’s designated funeral home. Families should select a funeral home within three days to coordinate the release of personal property. Items retained as evidence remain with the investigating law enforcement agency and are not released by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Where can I find official King County Medical Examiner case information?
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office publishes decedent case information after investigations are completed and required notifications have been made. The decedent lists page may include case details such as case number, name, date of death, location information, cause of death, manner of death, and investigating agency.
How can families request DNA or genetic testing samples?
Requests for blood or tissue samples preserved during an investigation must be submitted through the official process. The request generally requires authorization from the legal next of kin, personal representative, legal subpoena holder, or court order. More details about eligibility and procedures are available on the DNA and genetic testing requests page.