South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 14 - Coroner's Inquests
Section 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner.

23-14-18. Deaths to be investigated by coroner.
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, §23-14-9.1, 23-14-19, 23-14-20, 34-26-2, 34-26-5, or 34-26-14 supersedes the obligation of any county sheriff to pursue and apprehend all felons pursuant to §7-12-1. Deaths which are in the public interest, without limitation, are:
(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;
(2)All deaths where the identity of the victim is unknown or the body is unclaimed;
(3)All deaths of inmates of any state, county, or municipally operated correctional facility, mental institution, or special school;
(4)All deaths believed to represent a public health hazard;
(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
(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.

Source: SL 1985, ch 191, §1; SL 1990, ch 170, §2; SL 1991, ch 198, §1; SL 2017, ch 171, §50.

Structure South Dakota Codified Laws

South Dakota Codified Laws

Title 23 - Law Enforcement

Chapter 14 - Coroner's Inquests

Section 23-14-1 - Duty of coroner to inquire into cause of death.

Section 23-14-3 - Summons of jury for coroner's inquest.

Section 23-14-5 - Bystander as juror--Juror failing to appear.

Section 23-14-7 - Witnesses to be subpoenaed--Fees--Compelling attendance--Contempt.

Section 23-14-9 - Physician summoned to make examination--Compensation.

Section 23-14-9.1 - Autopsy ordered by state's attorney, sheriff, or coroner.

Section 23-14-9.2 - Autopsy fees--Coroner performing autopsy--County of residence to pay for autopsy.

Section 23-14-10 - Testimony in writing--Subscribing by witnesses.

Section 23-14-12 - Inquest not made public until arrest directed.

Section 23-14-13 - Arrest of person charged--Coroner's warrant.

Section 23-14-14 - Coroner's warrant equal to magistrate's warrant--Proceedings as on complaint.

Section 23-14-15 - Recitals in coroner's warrant--Foundation for commitment proceedings.

Section 23-14-16 - Papers returned to circuit court.

Section 23-14-17 - Forms to be promulgated--Publication--Effect of forms.

Section 23-14-18 - Deaths to be investigated by coroner.

Section 23-14-18.1 - Designation of special death investigators.

Section 23-14-18.2 - Jurisdiction and duties of special death investigators.

Section 23-14-18.3 - Investigation of uncertified deaths.

Section 23-14-18.4 - Compensation of special death investigators.

Section 23-14-19 - Joint custody of dead bodies and effects--Movement prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.

Section 23-14-20 - Certificate prepared by coroner.