Minn. Stat. § 390.32
The sheriff shall investigate and may recommend to the medical examiner and the county attorney the conduct of inquests and autopsies in all human deaths of the following types:
The sheriff shall report all such deaths to the medical examiner and the county attorney.
Subject to section 390.11, subdivision 2b, the medical examiner may conduct an autopsy in the case of any human death of any type referred to in subdivision 1, clause (1) or (2), or in section 390.11, subdivision 1.
The medical examiner shall conduct an autopsy in the case of any human death reported to the medical examiner by the state fire marshal or a chief officer under section 299F.04, subdivision 5, and apparently caused by fire.
Subject to section 390.11, subdivision 2b, the medical examiner may conduct an autopsy in the case of any human death of any type referred to in subdivision 1, clause (3) or (4), or may exhume any human body and perform an autopsy in the case of any human death of any type referred to in subdivision 1 when in the judgment of the medical examiner the public interest requires an autopsy. No such autopsy on an exhumed body shall be conducted unless the surviving spouse, or next of kin if there is no surviving spouse, consents, or unless the district court of the county where the body is located or buried, upon notice as the court directs, enters its order authorizing an autopsy or an exhumation and autopsy. Application for an order may be made by the medical examiner or the county attorney of the county where the body is located or buried, upon a showing that the court deems appropriate.
If the medical examiner finds it advisable to engage the services of medical specialists, including pathologists and toxicologists, the medical examiner shall apply to the judge exercising probate jurisdiction for authorization. If the medical examiner shows reasonable cause, the judge shall authorize the medical examiner to engage medical specialists and provide for payment of their fees and expenses. The costs of the services shall be paid by the county treasurer upon receipt of a certificate from the judge exercising probate jurisdiction.
The sheriff shall keep properly indexed records giving the name, if known, of every person whose death is investigated, the place where the body was found, the date, cause, and manner of death, and all other relevant information concerning the death.
Upon notification of a death subject to this section, the sheriff or deputy shall proceed to the body, take charge of it, and, when necessary, order that there be no interference with the body or the scene of death.
The sheriff shall deliver a signed copy of the report of investigation to the county attorney and the medical examiner.
If the county attorney elects to conduct an inquest, the county attorney shall promptly notify the judge of the need for an inquest and make all arrangements for it. At the inquest, the judge shall preside and the county attorney shall conduct the inquest on behalf of the state. Upon conclusion of the inquest, the judge shall find the cause of death and sign and file a death record. The judge, upon application of the county attorney, may issue subpoenas for witnesses in the manner provided by section 390.11, subdivision 5, and the judge shall administer the oath to them in the manner provided by section 390.33, subdivision 3.
If the county attorney elects not to conduct an inquest, the county attorney shall inform the medical examiner who shall find the cause of death and sign and file a death record.
The commissioner of corrections may require that all department-of-corrections-incarcerated deaths be reviewed by an independent, contracted, board-certified forensic pathologist.
Minn. Stat. § 390.32
1971 c 367 s 2; 1985 c 265 art 7 s 1; 1991 c 319 s 20; 1993 c 326 art 5 s 5; 1995 c 189 s 8; 1996 c 277 s 1; 2001 c 210 s 20; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 15 s 32; 2012 c 187 art 1 s 66; 2013 c 125 art 1 s 69; 2015 c 60 s 5, 6