Sec. 12.5. (a) A coroner shall make all reasonable attempts to promptly identify human remains, including taking the following steps:
(1) Photograph the human remains before an autopsy is conducted.
(2) X-ray the human remains.
(3) Photograph items found with the human remains.
(4) Fingerprint the remains, if possible.
(5) Obtain tissue, bone, or hair samples suitable for DNA typing, if possible.
(6) Collect any other information relevant to identification efforts.
(b) A coroner may not dispose of unidentified human remains or take any other action that will materially affect the condition of the remains until the coroner has taken the steps described in subsection (a).
(c) If human remains have not been identified after thirty (30) days, the coroner or other person having custody of the remains shall request the state police to do the following:
(1) Enter information that may assist in the identification of the remains into:
(A) the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data base; and
(B) any other appropriate data base.
(2) Upload relevant DNA profiles from the remains to the missing persons data base of the State DNA Index System (SDIS) and the National DNA Index System (NDIS) after completion of the DNA analysis and other procedures required for data base entry.
(d) If unidentified human remains are identified as belonging to a missing person, the coroner shall:
(1) notify the law enforcement agency handling the missing persons case that the missing person is deceased; and
(2) instruct the law enforcement agency to make documented efforts to contact family members of the missing person.
(e) No person may order the cremation of unidentified human remains.
As added by P.L.92-2007, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.225-2007, SEC.15.
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