Statement from the DHHS Office of the Medical Examiner

Joe DoughertyFeatured News

About the OME

The Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) in the Utah Department of Health and Human Services investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, violent, or suspicious for the whole state of Utah. 

Media who are seeking comment

Various members of the media have contacted the department and OME for comments related to today’s incident.
According to state law, the OME cannot comment on any investigations we may be involved in. Records from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner are considered confidential under the Utah Medical Examiner Act (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26B/Chapter8/26B-8-S217.html?v=C26B-8-S217_2023050320230503) and can only be released by the OME or DHHS to the decedent’s next-of-kin, legal representative, physician who attended the decedent, law enforcement. Because of this law, we are unable to make statements on any cases that OME has worked on, including current cases.

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