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DEATH INVESTIGATION
146.107 Authority to enter and secure certain premises; court order. (1) A medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney may enter any room, dwelling, building or other place in which the medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney has reasonable cause to believe that a body or evidence of the circumstances of death requiring investigation may be found.
(2) If refused entry (ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONSENT FIRST), the medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney may apply to any judge authorized to issue search warrants for an order to enter such premises, search for and seize a body or any evidence of the cause or manner of death.
(3) Upon application supported by an affidavit setting forth facts and circumstances tending to show that a body or such evidence of death is in the place to be searched, the judge shall issue such order to enter and search and seize.
(4) To preserve evidence, a medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney may:
(a) Place under the custody or control of the medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney, or enclose or lock any room, dwelling, building or other enclosure for a period of not more than five days.
(b) Rope off or otherwise restrict entry to any open area.
(c) Forbid the entrance of any unauthorized person into the area specified under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(5) No person shall enter upon the enclosures or areas specified in subsection (4) of this section without the permission of the medical examiner, deputy medical examiner or district attorney
146.090 Deaths requiring investigation. (1) The medical examiner shall investigate and certify the cause and manner of all human deaths:
(a) Apparently homicidal, suicidal or occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances;
(b) Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents;
(c) Occurring while incarcerated in any jail, correction facility or in police custody;
(d) Apparently accidental or following an injury;
(e) By disease, injury or toxic agent during or arising from employment;
(f) While not under the care of a physician during the period immediately previous to death;
(g) Related to disease which might constitute a threat to the public health; or
(h) In which a human body apparently has been disposed of in an offensive manner.
(2) As used in this section, “offensive manner” means a manner offensive to the generally accepted standards of the community.