Office of Death Investigator

Art. 49A.075. OFFICE OF DEATH INVESTIGATOR. (a) The commissioners court of a county may establish an office of death investigator and employ one or more death investigators to assist a person in the county who conducts an inquest. A death investigator serves at the will of the commissioners court and on terms set by the commissioners court. (b) To be eligible for employment as a death investigator, a person must have experience or training in investigative procedures concerning the circumstances, manner, and cause of the death of a person. (c) At the request and under the supervision of a justice of the peace or other person who conducts an inquest, a death investigator may assist the person conducting the inquest to: (1) investigate the time, place, and manner of death; and (2) lock and seal the premises of the deceased person. (d) A death investigator who assists in an inquest under Subsection (c) shall, not later than eight hours after the death investigator completes the investigation, make a complete report of the death investigator's activities, findings, and conclusions to the justice of the peace or other person conducting the inquest. (e) A death investigator employed under this article is entitled to receive compensation from the county in an amount set by the commissioners court. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 1610), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of article effective on April 01, 2027