Helping You With Your Loss

SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION FROM THE MARIPOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

JAMES H. ALLEN

SHERIFF - CORONER - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

(209) 966-3615

A Special Message:

On behalf of the Mariposa County Sheriff - Coroner - Public Administrator's Office, we extend our deepest sympathy to you at this time. To assist you during this difficult time, we have prepared this pamphlet to answer some commonly asked questions.

Q. Where is my loved one being taken?

A. The deceased is being removed to our Coroners Facility in Modesto.

Q. Can I come see him/her?

A. The visitation of the loved one should be done at the funeral home. It is not permitted at Coroners Facility.

Q. What do I do now?

A. Contact a funeral director or cremation service of your choice and advise them of what has transpired.

Q. Is an autopsy always performed?

A. No. If the death is a "Natural Death" and the deceased has a physician who knows the medical cause of death and has treated the patient within 20 days prior to death and can advise the Coroner with an acceptable cause, the Coroner will normally not perform an autopsy.

Q. Does the Coroner always embalm?

A. No, only in particular cases, for health reasons.

Q. Why are autopsies performed?

A. There are a number of reasons autopsies are performed. However, the basic reason is to determine the medical cause of death. Another reason is to gather evidence for presentation in a court of law. At a later date, you will be glad we obtained this information for you. If we perform an autopsy, tissue may be removed for transplantation purposes, only with the family’s signed permission and the Coroner’s approval.

Q. When can I have the funeral?

A. Usually on the fourth day following the death, excluding weekends, your loved one will be released to the Funeral Home. The exception to this procedure is a homicide case. That case will take precedence over other cases currently being examined.

Q. Why is the Coroner involved in the death of my loved one?

A. The following is a list of the deaths the Coroner is required by the State of California to investigate. (Govt. Code 27491)

  1. Unattended deaths (No physician in attendance or during the continued absence of the attending physician)
  2. Wherein the deceased has not been attended by a physician in the 20 days prior to death
  3. Physician unable to state the cause of death. (Unwillingness does not apply)
  4. Known or suspected homicide.
  5. Known or suspected suicide.
  6. Involving any criminal action or suspicion of a criminal act.
  7. Related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortion.
  8. Associated with a known or alleged rape or crime against nature.
  9. Following an accident or injury. (Primary or contributory)
  10. Drowning, fire, gunshot, stabbing, starvation, exposure, alcoholism, drug addiction or aspiration.
  11. Accidental poisoning. (e.g. chemical, drug, prescription)
  12. Occupation diseases or occupational hazards.
  13. Known or suspected contagious disease and constituting a public hazard.
  14. All deaths in operating rooms and all deaths where a patient has not fully recovered from an anesthetic, whether in surgery, recovery room or elsewhere.
  15. In prison or while under sentence.
  16. All deaths of unidentified persons.
  17. All deaths where the patient is comatose throughout the period of the physician’s attendance.
  18. Suspected Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (crib deaths)
  19. All fetal deaths when gestation period is 20 weeks or longer.

FINDING OUT THE CAUSE OF DEATH

 

Call Assistant Coroner - Public Administrator Gail Sgambellone at (209) 966-3615.

In most cases the cause of death will have been determined within four days following the death. Cases involving blood tests or microscopic examinations to determine the cause may take longer, up to four months. These tests do not usually require the office to hold the deceased, so the family may proceed with the funeral plans.

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS

When you feel you are able, you should contact a funeral home or cremation service of your choice. Talk with friends or family who have also had to make funeral arrangements. All funeral homes are required by law to quote services and prices over the phone. You should call or have someone call several before making your decision.

The Coroner cannot recommend specific funeral homes. After you’ve made your selection, inform the funeral home that the Coroner is involved . You will be asked to sign a release form authorizing the funeral home to act for you with the Coroner’s Office.

RECOVERING PERSONAL PROPERTY

Personal property of the deceased may be claimed at the Coroner’s Office during regular office hours. The next of kin must sign in person or authorize another person in writing to receive the possessions. The normal priority order for next of kin is spouse, child, parent and brother or sister.

OBTAINING COPIES OF RECORDS

The Mariposa County Sheriff - Coroner - Public Administrator's Office issues the original Death Certificate which is completed by the funeral home and then filed with the County Recorders Office. Certified copies are available through your funeral home or directly from the County Recorder’s Office. Call (209) 966-5719.

Coroner records may be examined in the office during regular business hours or information will be provided by telephone. A fee is charged only if you wish to purchase copies of the Coroner’s Report.

The Public Administrator investigates and may administer the estates of persons who die with or without a will or an appropriate person willing or able to act as their Administrator. The Public Administrator has the same duties as Private Administrators.

If you contact the Public Administrator for assistance, the Public Administrators Office may: 

  1. Protect the decedent’s property from loss or theft.
  2. Make appropriate burial or cremation arrangements.
  3. Conduct thorough investigations to discover all assets and set up an individual trust account for the decedent.
  4. Collect income due and manage real and personal property.
  5. Ensure that the estate is administered according to the decedent’s wishes, if at all possible.
  6. Pay decedent’s creditors and taxes.
  7. Locate persons entitled to inherit from the estate and ensure that these individuals receive their inheritance.

For further information please contact:

Assistant Coroner - Public Administrator Gail Sgambellone at (209) 966-3615

OTHER RESOURCES

Bereavement Group 966-5315

Health Department 966-3689

Mental Health Crisis Line 966-2000

John C. Fremont Hospital 966-3631

S.I.D.S. Foundation 1-800-369-7437

Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213

V.A. Benefits 1-800-827-1000

I hope this has been of some help to you. I again extend my sincere sympathy to you during this most difficult time. I assure you, your loved one will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. The essence of a Coroner’s inquiry is the search for the truth. The impartial medical/legal investigation helps to support and protect the public.

Please be assured, my office is at your service. If there are any other questions you may have, please call Assistant Coroner - Public Administrator Gail Sgambellone at:

(209) 966-3615 (24 Hour Number).

Sincerely,

James H. Allen 

Sheriff - Coroner

County Of Mariposa

P. O. Box 276

Mariposa, CA 95338

Telephone: (209) 966-3615

FAX: (209) 742-5090

 

Links

National Funeral Directors - http://www.nfda.org

California Funeral Directors - http://www.cafda.org

National Selected Morticians - http://www.nsm.org

Jack Frediani Containers and Supplies - http://www.frediani.com

TLR Services - http://www.embalmer.com

OSHA - http://www.osha.gov

Department of Industrial Relations, CA - http://www.dir.ca.gov

FEMA. - http://www.fema.gov

Funeral Service Center Directory - http://www.funeral.com

Center for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov

ESCO - http://www.embalmers.com

Better Business Bureau - http://www.bbb.org

National Fraud Information Center - http://www.fraud.org

California State Coroners Association - http://www.coroners.org

Advanced Restoration Specialists - http://www.advrestore.com

Asepsis Technology - http://www.asepsistechnology.com

Symmetry Life - http://www.symmetrylife.com