Coroner Records
Louisiana Coroner Records: What the Law Says
For researchers and true-crime advocates exploring cold cases, understanding Louisiana Revised Statute 44:19 is essential.
The law clearly dictates which coroner records are open to the public and which remain confidential.
Knowing these legal parameters helps researchers navigate public records efficiently when tracking historical Louisiana investigations.
Confidentiality Rules
- Pre-Death Medical Records: A deceased person’s physical, mental, or behavioral health history in the coroner’s custody is strictly confidential and exempt from public records requests. (This exclusion does not apply to death certificates, fact of death letters, or coroner’s reports).
- Autopsy Visuals: Autopsy photographs, videos, and visual images are not public records. They are strictly confidential and can only be released to family members, succession representatives, law enforcement for official use, forensic experts for identification, or via court order.
Breakdown of Coroner Documents
Louisiana law categorizes investigation files into four distinct document types:
- Fact of Death Letter: A written proof-of-death statement. It is a public record and must be provided to close family upon request.
- Death Investigation Report: An internal coroner’s work product comprehensively detailing case findings. It is not a public document, but it is provided free to law enforcement and family members, and remains subject to subpoena.
- Coroner’s Report: Contains basic decedent demographics, death details, and the cause and manner of death. It is a public record released to the media and family after next-of-kin notification.
- Autopsy Report (Post-Mortem Examination): Details physical findings, toxicology, and conclusions. Generally not a public document, but provided free to law enforcement, physicians, and family.
- The Cold Case Exception: Any autopsy report used in the investigation of criminal activity or an in-custody death is a public record.
Public Health Sharing. Coroners are permitted to share these documents with the Louisiana Department of Health for public health surveillance. However, the health department must maintain strict confidentiality, making these records immune to public requests or subpoenas submitted directly to them.
Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office
PO Box 9201, New Iberia 70562
Ofc: 337-365-8804 | 24 hr: 337-364-0441
iberiaparishcoroner@yahoo.com | Records