The Green Lake County Medical Examiner’s Office is responsible for conducting all Medicolegal Death Investigations by Violence, Criminal Means, Suicide, Accident, Disease, or any unattended Deaths of Suspicious or Unusual Circumstances what ever the cause may be, or if the now deceased is to be Cremated. The Medical Examiner’s Office provides Identification, Orders Autopsies and conducts Inquests when necessary, while working along side State, City and other Green Lake County Officials and Law Enforcement Officers. Medical Records & Reports are submitted to the District Attorney for Prosecution if appropriate. The Medical Examiner will Testify in Court when necessary.
Mission:
It is the duty of the Green Lake County Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death in those deaths that fall under our legal jurisdiction, as described in Wis. Stats. §979.01, to document the circumstances and facts related to those deaths, as it relates to the deceased.
The Medical Examiner’s Office achieves these goals by applying their knowledge and experience in the field of medicolegal death investigation to the performance of comprehensive, professional investigations.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ's)
Who can I speak to about a death investigation?
To inquire about a death investigation, you may contact the Medical Examiner’s Office at 920-294-4000 at any time. You will need to provide your name, contact number, name of the deceased and your relationship to the deceased.
How can I find out about the cause of death?
After the death investigation has taken place, the Medical Examiner will contact the legal next of kin with a cause and manner of death. If during a death investigation it is determined that an autopsy will be necessary to determine cause of death, the Medical Examiner’s Office will contact the legal next of kin to inform them of preliminary results after the autopsy has occurred. Once the final autopsy report has been received, the legal next of kin will be contacted by the Medical Examiner’s Office as to the cause and manner of death. An autopsy report can be requested in writing to the Medical Examiner’s Office at 571 County Road A, PO Box 3188, Green Lake, Wisconsin, 54971.
How can I recover my loved one’s personal possessions?
All personal property that is collected with the decedent’s body is released to the funeral home chosen by the legal next of kin, with the exception of items that are retained by law enforcement or the Medical Examiner’s Office for evidentiary purposes. A property release form is signed by the person transporting the decedent’s body for the funeral home.
How can I get a copy of the death certificate?
The death certificate has two sections and is initially started by the funeral home. The second section is the medical portion completed by a representative of the Medical Examiner’s Office. Once the death certificate is completed, the document is filed with the local Register of Deeds and the Wisconsin State Vital Records Office. The filed death certificate can be obtained from the funeral home or the Register of Deeds Office.
How long will it take to have my loved one cremated?
By law, all bodies to be cremated must be reported to the Medical Examiner’s Office, and may not be processed for cremation for at least 48 hours after the time of death. All cremations require a signed cremation permit from the Medical Examiner’s Office before proceeding.
Staff Directory
Tom Wastart – Medical Examiner
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