Chapter 979

CHAPTER 979

INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS

979.01   Reporting deaths required; penalty; taking specimens by coroner or medical examiner.

979.012   Reporting deaths of public health concern.

979.015   Subpoena for documents.

979.02   Autopsies.

979.025   Autopsy of correctional inmate.

979.03   Autopsy for sudden infant death syndrome.

979.04   Inquests: when called.

979.05   Inquests: procedure.

979.06   Inquests: witnesses.

979.07   Incriminating testimony compelled; immunity.

979.08   Inquests: instructions, burden of proof and verdict.

979.09   Burial of body.

979.10   Cremation.

979.11   Compensation of officers.

979.12   Fees for morgue services.

979.22   Autopsies and toxicological services by medical examiners.

Ch. 979 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 967.02.

979.01 979.01 Reporting deaths required; penalty; taking specimens by coroner or medical examiner.

979.01(1) (1) All physicians, authorities of hospitals, sanatoriums, public and private institutions, convalescent homes, authorities of any institution of a like nature, and other persons having knowledge of the death of any person who has died under any of the following circumstances, shall immediately report the death to the sheriff, police chief, or medical examiner or coroner of the county where the death took place:

979.01(1)(a) (a) All deaths in which there are unexplained, unusual or suspicious circumstances.

979.01(1)(b) (b) All homicides.

979.01(1)(c) (c) All suicides.

979.01(1)(d) (d) All deaths following an abortion.

979.01(1)(e) (e) All deaths due to poisoning, whether homicidal, suicidal or accidental.

979.01(1)(f) (f) All deaths following accidents, whether the injury is or is not the primary cause of death.

979.01(1)(g) (g) When there was no physician, or accredited practitioner of a bona fide religious denomination relying upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in attendance within 30 days preceding death.

979.01(1)(h) (h) When a physician refuses to sign the death record.

979.01(1)(i) (i) When, after reasonable efforts, a physician cannot be obtained to sign the medical certification as required under s. 69.18 (2) (b) or (c) within 6 days after the pronouncement of death or sooner under circumstances which the coroner or medical examiner determines to be an emergency.

979.01(1g) (1g) A sheriff or police chief shall, immediately upon notification under sub. (1) or s. 948.23 (1) (b) of a death, notify the coroner or the medical examiner, and the coroner or medical examiner of the county where death took place, if the crime, injury, or event occurred in another county, shall immediately report the death to the coroner or medical examiner of that county.

979.01(1m) (1m) The coroner or medical examiner receiving notification under sub. (1) or (1g) shall immediately notify the district attorney.

979.01(1r) (1r) If the coroner or medical examiner is notified of a death under sub. (1) or (1g) and determines that his or her notification of the death was not required under sub. (1) or (1g), he or she shall notify the director of the historical society under s. 157.70 (3).

979.01(2) (2) Unless s. 948.23 (1) (b) applies, any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days.

979.01(3) (3) In all cases of death reportable under sub. (1) or s. 948.23 (1) (b) where an autopsy is not performed, the coroner or medical examiner may take for analysis any and all specimens, body fluids and any other material which will assist him or her in determining the cause of death. The specimens, body fluids and other material taken under this subsection shall not be admissible in evidence in any civil action against the deceased or the deceased’s estate, as the result of any act of the deceased.

979.01(3m) (3m) In all cases of death reportable under sub. (1) or s. 948.23 (1) (b) where an autopsy is not performed, the coroner or medical examiner shall take for analysis any and all specimens, body fluids and any other material that will assist him or her in determining the cause of death if requested to do so by a spouse, parent, child or sibling of the deceased person and not objected to by any of those family members. The specimens, body fluids and other material taken under this subsection shall not be admissible in evidence in any civil action against the deceased or his or her estate, as the result of any act of the deceased.

979.01(4) (4) No person may embalm or perform an autopsy on the body of any person who has died under any of the circumstances listed in this section or on the body of any person whose death has been reported under s. 948.23 (1) (b) unless the person obtains the written authorization of the coroner of the county in which the injury or cause of death occurred. Such authorization shall be issued by the coroner or a deputy within 12 hours after notification of the reportable death, or as soon thereafter as possible in the event of unexplained, unusual or suspicious circumstances.

979.01(5) (5) If a person specified to report under sub. (1) has knowledge of the death of any individual occurring within 24 hours after that individual either has presented at or is admitted to a hospital or other facility described under sub. (1), whichever is earlier, the person specified to report under sub. (1) shall immediately notify the medical examiner or coroner of the county where the death took place to allow the medical examiner or coroner to determine if the death is reportable under sub. (1). This subsection does not apply to a hospice, as defined in s. 50.90 (1).

979.01 History History: 1973 c. 272; 1975 c. 294, 421; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 279 ss. 8, 22; Stats. 1983 s. 979.01; 1985 a. 315, 316; 1989 a. 121; 1993 a. 486; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 38; 2011 a. 268; 2017 a. 334; 2023 a. 175.

979.01 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DHS 135.09, Wis. adm. code.

979.01 Annotation Admission of a blood sample is not barred by sub. (3) when the action is brought by the deceased’s estate. Luedtke v. Shedivy, 51 Wis. 2d 110, 186 N.W.2d 220 (1971).

979.01 Annotation If an accident occurs in one county and the victim is transported to another county, and death occurs there, the coroner where the death occurs has a duty to immediately report the death to the coroner of county where the crime, injury, or event occurred, and the coroner of the latter county has authority to investigate and a duty to hold an inquest if he or she considers it necessary or if directed by the district attorney of his or her county. 62 Atty. Gen. 127.

979.012 979.012 Reporting deaths of public health concern.

979.012(1) (1) If a coroner or medical examiner is aware of the death of a person who, at the time of his or her death, had an illness or a health condition that satisfies s. 323.02 (16) (a) or if the coroner or medical examiner knows or suspects that the person had a communicable disease that, under rules promulgated by the department of health services, must be reported to a local health officer or to the state epidemiologist, the coroner or medical examiner shall report the illness, health condition, or communicable disease to the department of health services and to the local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4), in whose jurisdiction the coroner or medical examiner is located in writing or by electronic transmission within 24 hours of learning of the deceased’s illness, health condition, or communicable disease.

979.012(2) (2) In a report under sub. (1), the coroner or medical examiner shall include all of the following information if such information is available:

979.012(2)(a) (a) The illness, health condition, or communicable disease of the deceased.

979.012(2)(b) (b) The name, date of birth, gender, race, occupation, and home and work addresses of the deceased.

979.012(2)(c) (c) The name and address of the coroner or medical examiner.

979.012(2)(d) (d) If the illness, health condition, or communicable disease was related to an animal or insect bite, the suspected location where the bite occurred and the name and address of the owner of the animal or insect, if an owner is identified.

979.012 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 198; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 42.

979.015 979.015 Subpoena for documents. Upon the request of the coroner, medical examiner or district attorney, a court shall issue a subpoena requiring the production of documents necessary for the determination of a decedent’s cause of death. The documents may include the decedent’s patient health care records and treatment records, as defined in ss. 51.30 and 146.81 (4). The documents shall be returnable to the officer named in the subpoena.

979.015 History History: 1983 a. 279.

979.02 979.02 Autopsies. The coroner, medical examiner or district attorney may order the conducting of an autopsy upon the body of a dead person any place within the state in cases where an inquest might be had as provided in s. 979.04 notwithstanding the fact that no such inquest is ordered or conducted. The autopsy shall be conducted by a licensed physician who has specialized training in pathology. The district attorney may move the circuit court for the county in which the body is buried for an order disinterring the body for purposes of autopsy. The order shall be granted by the circuit court upon a reasonable showing that any of the criteria specified in s. 979.04 exists. This section does not prevent additional autopsies or examinations of the body if there are unanswered pathological questions concerning the death and the causes of death.

979.02 History History: 1983 a. 279 s. 12; Stats. 1983 s. 979.02.

979.025 979.025 Autopsy of correctional inmate.

979.025(1) (1) Inmate confined to an institution in this state. If an individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody of the department and confined to a correctional facility located in this state, the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurred shall perform an autopsy on the deceased individual. If the coroner or medical examiner who performs the autopsy determines that the individual’s death may have been the result of any of the situations that would permit the district attorney to order an inquest under s. 979.04 (1), the coroner or medical examiner shall follow the procedures under s. 979.04 (2).

979.025(2) (2) Inmate confined in an institution in another state. If an individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody of the department and confined to a correctional facility in another state under a contract under s. 301.07, 301.21, or 302.25, the department shall have an autopsy performed by an appropriate authority in the other state or by the coroner or medical examiner of the county in which the circuit court is located that sentenced the individual to the custody of the department. If the coroner or medical examiner who performs the autopsy in this state determines that the individual’s death may have been the result of any of the situations that would permit the district attorney to order an inquest under s. 979.04 (1), the coroner or medical examiner shall forward the results of the autopsy to the appropriate authority in the other state.

979.025(3) (3) Costs of an autopsy. The costs of an autopsy performed under sub. (1) or (2) shall be paid by the department.

979.025 History History: 2001 a. 16.

979.03 979.03 Autopsy for sudden infant death syndrome. If a child under the age of 2 years dies suddenly and unexpectedly under circumstances indicating that the death may have been caused by sudden infant death syndrome, the coroner or medical examiner shall notify the child’s parents or guardian that an autopsy will be performed, at no cost to the parents or guardian, unless the parents or guardian object to the autopsy. The coroner or medical examiner shall conduct or shall order the conducting of an autopsy at county expense, unless parent or guardian requests in writing that an autopsy not be performed. If the autopsy reveals that sudden infant death syndrome is the cause of death, that fact shall be so stated in the autopsy report. The parents or guardian of the child shall be promptly notified of the cause of death and of the availability of counseling services.

979.03 History History: 1977 c. 246; 1983 a. 279 s. 13; Stats. 1983 s. 979.03.

979.03 Annotation Only when a coroner has no reason to believe that a death was caused by circumstances under s. 979.01 [now s. 979.04] other than sudden infant death syndrome does a written objection under s. 979.125 [now s. 979.03] bar an autopsy under s. 979.121 [now s. 979.02]. 68 Atty. Gen. 55.

979.04 979.04 Inquests: when called.

979.04(1) (1) If the district attorney has notice of the death of any person and there is reason to believe from the circumstances surrounding the death that felony murder, first-degree or 2nd-degree intentional homicide, first-degree or 2nd-degree reckless homicide, homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapon, explosives or fire, homicide by negligent operation of vehicle, homicide resulting from negligent control of a vicious animal or homicide by intoxicated user of a vehicle or firearm may have been committed, or that death may have been due to suicide or unexplained or suspicious circumstances, the district attorney may order that an inquest be conducted for the purpose of inquiring how the person died. The district attorney shall appear in any such inquest representing the state in presenting all evidence which may be relevant or material to the inquiry of the inquest. The inquest may be held in any county in this state in which venue would lie for the trial of any offense charged as the result of or involving the death. An inquest may only be ordered by the district attorney under this subsection or by the circuit judge under sub. (2).

979.04(2) (2) If the coroner or medical examiner has knowledge of the death of any person in the manner described under sub. (1), he or she shall immediately notify the district attorney. The notification shall include information concerning the circumstances surrounding the death. The coroner or medical examiner may request the district attorney to order an inquest under sub. (1). If the district attorney refuses to order the inquest, a coroner or medical examiner may petition the circuit court to order an inquest. The court may issue the order if it finds that the district attorney has abused his or her discretion in not ordering an inquest.

979.04(3) (3) Subsequent to receipt of notice of the death, the district attorney may request the coroner or medical examiner to conduct a preliminary investigation and report back to the district attorney. The district attorney may determine the scope of the preliminary investigation. This subsection does not limit or prevent any other investigation into the death by any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the investigation.

979.04 History History: 1983 a. 279; 1985 a. 135; 1987 a. 399.

979.05 979.05 Inquests: procedure.

979.05(1) (1) An inquest shall be conducted by a circuit judge or a circuit court commissioner.

979.05(2) (2) The inquest shall be conducted before a jury unless the district attorney, coroner, or medical examiner requests that the inquest be conducted before the judge or circuit court commissioner only. If the inquest is to be conducted before a jury, a sufficient number of names of prospective jurors shall be selected from the prospective juror list for the county in which the inquest is to be held by the clerk of circuit court in the manner provided in s. 756.06. The judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest shall summon the prospective jurors to appear before the judge or circuit court commissioner at the time fixed in the summons. The summons may be served by mail, or by personal service if the judge, circuit court commissioner, or district attorney determines personal service to be appropriate. The summons shall be in the form used to summon petit jurors in the circuit courts of the county. Any person who fails to appear when summoned as an inquest juror is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $40. The inquest jury shall consist of 6 jurors. If 6 jurors do not remain from the number originally summoned after establishment of qualifications, the judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest may require the clerk of the circuit court to select sufficient additional jurors’ names. Those persons shall be summoned forthwith by the sheriff of the county.

979.05(3) (3) The judge or circuit court commissioner shall examine on oath or affirmation each person who is called as a juror to discover whether the juror is related by blood, marriage or adoption to the decedent, any member of the decedent’s family, the district attorney, any other attorney appearing in the case or any members of the office of the district attorney or of the office of any other attorney appearing in the case, has expressed or formed any opinion regarding the matters being inquired into in the inquest or is aware of or has any bias or prejudice concerning the matters being inquired into in the inquest. If any prospective juror is found to be not indifferent or is found to have formed an opinion which cannot be laid aside, that juror shall be excused. The judge or circuit commissioner may select one or more alternate jurors if the inquest is likely to be protracted. This subsection does not limit the right of the district attorney to supplement the judge’s or circuit commissioner’s examination of any prospective jurors as to qualifications.

979.05(4) (4) When 6 jurors have been selected, the judge or circuit court commissioner shall administer to them an oath or affirmation which shall be substantially in the following form:

You do solemnly swear (affirm) that you will diligently inquire and determine on behalf of this state when, and in what manner and by what means, the person known as .... .... who is now dead came to his or her death and that you will return a true verdict thereon according to your knowledge, according to the evidence presented and according to the instructions given to you by the .... (judge) (circuit court commissioner).

979.05(5) (5) Prior to the submission of evidence to the jury, the judge or circuit court commissioner may instruct the jury on its duties and on the substantive law regarding the issues which may be inquired into before the jury. The district attorney may, at any time during the course of the inquest, make statements to the jury relating to procedural or evidentiary matters he or she and the judge or circuit court commissioner deem appropriate. Section 972.12 applies to the conduct of the inquest jury.

979.05(6) (6) The judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest may order that proceedings be secret if the district attorney so requests or concurs.

979.05(7) (7) Inquest jurors shall receive the same compensation as jurors under s. 756.25.

979.05 History History: 1983 a. 279; Sup. Ct. Order No. 96-08, 207 Wis. 2d xv (1997); 1999 a. 162; 2001 a. 61.

979.06 979.06 Inquests: witnesses.

979.06(1) (1) The judge or circuit court commissioner may issue subpoenas for witnesses at the request of the coroner or medical examiner and shall issue subpoenas for witnesses requested by the district attorney. Subpoenas are returnable at the time and place stated therein. Persons who are served with a subpoena may be compelled to attend proceedings in the manner provided in s. 885.12.

979.06(2) (2) The judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest and the district attorney may require by subpoena the attendance of one or more expert witnesses, including physicians, surgeons and pathologists, for the purposes of conducting an examination of the body and all relevant and material scientific and medical tests connected with the examination and testifying as to the results of the examination and tests. The expert witnesses so subpoenaed shall receive reasonable fees determined by the district attorney and the judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest.