<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048153Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2048153SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048153CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048153Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2048153DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048153Normal-000001 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2048153000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048153SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048153SCL-000003 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18"><span class="s2048153SENU">23-14-18</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153SENU">. </span><span class="s2048153CL">Deaths to be investigated by coroner.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000000"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">The county coroner shall investigate any human death if a determination of the cause and manner of death is in the public interest. Nothing in the provisions of this section, § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-9.1"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">23-14-9.1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-19"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">23-14-19</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-20"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">23-14-20</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=34-26-2"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">34-26-2</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=34-26-5"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">34-26-5</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">, or </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=34-26-14"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">34-26-14</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont"> supersedes the obligation of any county sheriff to pursue and apprehend all felons pursuant to § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=7-12-1"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">7-12-1</span></a><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">. Deaths which are in the public interest, without limitation, are:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    All deaths by unnatural means or if there is a suspicion of unnatural means, including all deaths of accidental, homicidal, suicidal, and undetermined manner, regardless of suspected criminal involvement in the death;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    All deaths where the identity of the victim is unknown or the body is unclaimed;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    All deaths of inmates of any state, county, or municipally operated correctional facility, mental institution, or special school;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    All deaths believed to represent a public health hazard;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(5)    At the discretion of the coroner, all deaths of children under two years of age resulting from an unknown cause or if the circumstances surrounding the death indicate that sudden infant death syndrome may be the cause of death; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal-000001"><span class="s2048153DefaultParagraphFont">(6)    All natural deaths if the decedent is not under the care of a physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner or if the decedent's physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner does not feel qualified to sign the death certificate. However, the lack of an attending physician may not be construed to require an investigation or autopsy solely because the decedent was under treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048153Normal"><span class="s2048153SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048153SCL-000003"> SL 1985, ch 191, § 1; SL 1990, ch 170, § 2; SL 1991, ch 198, § 1; SL 2017, ch 171, § 50.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048154Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048154SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048154CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048154Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048154DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048154000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048154SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048154SCL-000002 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048154Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18.1"><span class="s2048154SENU">23-14-18.1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048154SENU">. </span><span class="s2048154CL">Designation of special death investigators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048154Normal-000000"><span class="s2048154DefaultParagraphFont">The secretary of health may designate physicians, physician's assistants, or certified nurse practitioners with competency in the field of forensic pathology as special death investigators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048154Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048154000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048154Normal"><span class="s2048154SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048154SCL-000002"> SL 1989, ch 204, § 1; SL 1991, ch 198, § 2; SL 2017, ch 171, § 50.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048155Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048155SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048155CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048155Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048155DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048155000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048155SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048155SCL-000002 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048155Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18.2"><span class="s2048155SENU">23-14-18.2</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048155SENU">. </span><span class="s2048155CL">Jurisdiction and duties of special death investigators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048155Normal-000000"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048155DefaultParagraphFont">At the request of a county coroner having jurisdiction over a dead body, or at the request of a state's attorney in deaths which may have occurred by unlawful means, the special death investigator may directly assume jurisdiction over any dead body when determination of the cause and manner of death may be in the public interest, with the same duties and responsibilities as a county coroner. With the concurrence of the county coroner, a special death investigator may issue subpoenas for witnesses or records pertaining to deaths investigated pursuant to § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18"><span class="s2048155DefaultParagraphFont">23-14-18</span></a><span class="s2048155DefaultParagraphFont">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048155Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048155000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048155Normal"><span class="s2048155SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048155SCL-000002"> SL 1989, ch 204, § 2; SL 1998, ch 145, § 2.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048156Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048156SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048156CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048156Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048156DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048156000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048156SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048156SCL-000002 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048156Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18.3"><span class="s2048156SENU">23-14-18.3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048156SENU">. </span><span class="s2048156CL">Investigation of uncertified deaths.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048156Normal-000000"><span class="s2048156DefaultParagraphFont">The secretary of health may direct a special death investigator to investigate and certify deaths remaining uncertified for more than three months after the death occurred or was reported.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048156Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048156000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048156Normal"><span class="s2048156SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048156SCL-000002"> SL 1989, ch 204, § 3.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048157Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048157SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048157CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048157Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048157DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048157DefaultParagraphFont-000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048157000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048157SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048157SCL-000003 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048157Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-14-18.4"><span class="s2048157SENU">23-14-18.4</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048157SENU">. </span><span class="s2048157CL">Compensation of special death investigators.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048157Normal-000000"><span class="s2048157DefaultParagraphFont">The special death investigator shall be compensated only by the agency requesting his services on a direct fee</span><span class="s2048157DefaultParagraphFont-000001">-</span><span class="s2048157DefaultParagraphFont">for</span><span class="s2048157DefaultParagraphFont-000001">-</span><span class="s2048157DefaultParagraphFont">service basis.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048157Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048157000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048157Normal"><span class="s2048157SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048157SCL-000003"> SL 1989, ch 204, § 4.</span></p></div></body></html>