Media Release Information

All information on this page has been requested by media.
 
For all media requesting information: e-mail to medexam@spokanecounty.org . Note that this information will be updated periodically Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., media should check back here for updates.

The postmortem report is confidential in the State of Washington (RCW 68.50.105). For family members of the deceased requesting information about obtaining postmortem reports, please call the Medical Examiner’s Office at (509) 477-2296 or e-mail to medexam@spokanecounty.org.   

  • Note that this page will be archived in January of each year, archiving all release information from the previous year

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                                                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Given the recent extreme weather conditions, multiple media outlets have requested information regarding deaths that may be heat related.

In many of the cases, the pathologist has determined that excessive heat played a role in the death, but is waiting for additional testing to determine whether there are other conditions that contributed, thus the final cause of death statement is not yet available.

This office will continue to update this page as cause of death is finalized on each case. 


** Historical data regarding numbers of heat related deaths (or Hyperthermia deaths) can be found in the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Report at the following link https://www.spokanecounty.org/3003/Annual-Reports  in the chart Accident Circumstances, or Accident Comparisons.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SPOKANE COUNTY March 20, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 12000 block of E Mission Ave in Spokane Valley, WA on February 15, 2023.

Name: Ashley High 
 Age: 36 years

Cause of Death:  toxic effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY March 20, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 2400 block of N Madelia in Spokane, WA on March 7, 2023.

Name: James Fisher
 Age: 50 years

Cause of Death:  pending

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY March 20, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 2400 block of N Madelia in Spokane, WA on March 7, 2023.

Name: Jennifer Jones
 Age: 40 years

Cause of Death:  blunt force injuries of the head

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY March 20, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 9500 block of E 4th Ave in Spokane Valley, WA on February 20, 2023.

Name: Nancy Carr
 Age: 54 years

Cause of Death:  Perforating gunshot wound of torso

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY March 10, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 200 block of E Cleveland Ave in Spokane, WA on March 7, 2023.

Name:  Joshua Vandouris
 Age: 39 years

Cause of Death:  Gunshot wound of the torso

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY March 10, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 900 block of E 5th Ave in Spokane, WA on March 6, 2023.

Name:  Gary Danielson
 Age: 44 years

Cause of Death:  Electrocution 

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY March 10, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 200 block of S Post St in Spokane, WA on March 4, 2023.

Name:  Christopher Gosney
 Age: 60 years

Cause of Death:  pending

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY March 6, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 12000 block of E Sprague Ave in Spokane Valley, WA on January 27, 2023.

Name:  Kimberly Allen
 Age: 57 years

Cause of Death:  blunt force injuries

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY March 6, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 2900 block of E Diamond Ave in Spokane, WA on February 15, 2023.

Name:  Anita Honga
 Age: 49 years

Cause of Death:  pending

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY March 6, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 1000 block of S Mamer Rd in Spokane Valley, WA on February 28, 2023.

Name:  Patrick Cabeza
 Age: 61 years

Cause of Death:  pending

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY February 14, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 1700 block of E 7th Ave in Spokane, WA on February 8, 2023.

Name:  Tyler Rowell
 Age: 17 years

Cause of Death:  gunshot wounds of head and torso

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY January 30, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the E Sprague exit on I90 in Spokane Valley, WA on January 20, 2023.

Name:  Duane Coulter
 Age: 59 years

Cause of Death:  multiple blunt force injuries; due to motorcycle crash

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY January 30, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 600 block of E Martingale Court in Spokane, WA on January 20, 2023.

Name:  Gael Wirth
 Age: 85 years

Cause of Death:  multiple gunshot wounds of the head

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY January 30, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 600 block of E Martingale Court in Spokane, WA on January 20, 2023.

Name:  Donald Wirth
 Age: 84 years

Cause of Death:  gunshot wound of the head

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY January 27, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 1400 block of E 7th Ave in Spokane, WA on December 31, 2022.

Name:  Carlos Thomas
 Age: 42 years

Cause of Death:  gunshot wounds of the chest

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY January 24, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 15000 block of Cheney Spokane Road in Cheney, WA on January 21, 2023.

Name:  Cavin Firestone
 Age: 27 years

Cause of Death:  blunt force injuries

Manner: Accident 

SPOKANE COUNTY January 13, 2023 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 1400 block of W Boone Ave in Spokane, WA on July 24, 2022.

Name:  Stephanie Stine
 Age: 30 years

Cause of Death:  asphyxia due to strangulation

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY December 28, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near the 29000 block of N Dalton Rd in Deer Park, WA on December 26, 2022.

Name:  Richard Purdy
 Age: 83 years

Cause of Death:  sharp and blunt force injuries

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY December 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the boy who died as the result of an incident near the 7700 block of E Greenbluff Rd in Colbert, WA on December 13, 2022.

Name:  Wyatt Halbig
 Age: 13 years

Cause of Death:  blunt force injuries of the torso

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY December 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident in the Spokane River in Spokane, WA on December 10, 2022.

Name:  Joseph Cole
 Age: 36 years

Cause of Death:  asphyxia due to drowning

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY November 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 2300 block of W Pacific Ave in Spokane, WA on November 12, 2022.

Name:  Elizabeth Burkland
 Age: 42 years

Cause of Death:  inhalation of products of combustion due to structure fire

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY November 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident near the 4400 block of S Dowdy Rd in Spokane, WA on October 31, 2022.

Name:  Tabitha Chandler
 Age: 50 years

Cause of Death:  Pending

Manner: Pending

SPOKANE COUNTY November 2, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near People's Park in the 3100 block of W Pacific Ave in Spokane, WA on October 24, 2022.

Name:  Andy Hernandez
 Age: 51 years

Cause of Death:  blunt force and asphyxial injuries

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY October 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 800 block of East G St in Deer Park, WA on April 27, 2022.

Name:  William Chamberlin
 Age: 17 years

Cause of Death:  undetermined cause of death

Manner: Undetermined

SPOKANE COUNTY October 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died at Sacred Heart Medical Center as the result of an incident at the intersection of West Garland Avenue & North Maple Street in Spokane, WA on October 7, 2022.

Name:  William Elixman
 Age: 56 years

Cause of Death:  Blunt force injuries of the head and torso

Manner: Accident


SPOKANE COUNTY September 27, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 100 block of N Madelia St in Spokane, WA on September 19, 2022.

Name:  David Holland
 Age: 52 years

Cause of Death:  Mechanical asphyxia

Manner: Accident


SPOKANE COUNTY September 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the 10 block of E 1st Ave in Spokane, WA on September 14, 2022.

Name:  Faith Cook
 Age: 23 years

Cause of Death:  Stab wound of the torso

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY September 14, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the Spokane River in Spokane Valley, WA on August 27, 2022.

Name:  Timothy C. Snell
 Age: 73 years

Cause of Death:  asphyxia due to drowning

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY September 13, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 110 block of W Queen Ave in Spokane, WA on August 27, 2022.

Name:  Ablos Kios
 Age: 22 years

Cause of Death: Perforating gunshot wound of head 

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY August 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the 170 block of S Division in Spokane, WA on August 12, 2022.

Name:  Nicole Jim
 Age: 40 years

Cause of Death: toxic effects of methamphetamine and fentanyl

Manner: Accident

*updated 9/26/2022

SPOKANE COUNTY August 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the 4400 block of W Downriver in Spokane, WA on August 4, 2022.

Name:  Sunniva Seat
 Age: 23 years

Cause of Death: mechanical asphyxia in the setting of blunt force injuries of the head and torso

Manner: Accident 

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 5300 block of N Belt St in Spokane, WA on July 3, 2022.

Name:  Michael Materne
 Age: 36 years

Cause of Death: gunshot wound of the left upper extremity and torso

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident on Eastbound I-90 near mile marker 285 in Spokane Valley, WA on July 15, 2022.

Name:  David Knoepfle
 Age: 34 years

Cause of Death: gunshot wound of back

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 15, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the Fish Lake Trailhead in Spokane, WA on July 14, 2022.

Name:  Willard Neighbour
 Age: 62 years

Cause of Death: methamphetamine intoxication

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 15, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at North Ash St and West Everett Ave in Spokane, WA on July 5, 2022.

Name:  Cassandra Bahzad
 Age: 42 years

Cause of Death: blunt force injuries

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 6, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at East Rowan Avenue & North Magnolia Street in Spokane, WA on July 1, 2022.

Name:  James Clark
 Age: 53 years

Cause of Death: Sharp force injuries of head and neck 

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, July 1, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident in the Spokane River near Downriver Disc Golf in Spokane, WA on 6/19/22.

Name:  Shayne Lamonica
 Age: 30 years

Cause of Death: asphyxia due to drowning

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, June 1, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died at Sacred Heart Medical Center as the result of an incident at the 2200 block of S Southeast Blvd in Spokane, WA on May 28, 2022.

Name:  Steven Hayes
 Age: 25 years

Cause of Death: blunt force injuries of the head combined with sharp force injuries of the head, neck, and torso

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, May 23, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 400 block of S Freya in Spokane, WA on May 5, 2022.

Name:  Phillip Carroll
 Age: 32 years

Cause of Death: Toxic effects of methamphetamine 

Manner: Accident

*updated 9/14/22


SPOKANE COUNTY, May 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident near East Upriver Lane & East Upriver Drive in Spokane, WA on May 07, 2022.

Name: Jose Rubio-Valencia
 Age: 19 years

Cause of Death: Blunt force injuries of the head and torso

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, May 12, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA on February 01, 2022.

Name:  Rana Lalita-Lopez
 Age: 74 years

Cause of Death: delayed complications of blunt force head injury

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, May 12, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident in the 700 block of W Augusta Ave in Spokane, WA on April 12, 2022.

Name:  Jaimeson Martinson
 Age: 47 years

Cause of Death: Gunshot wound of the torso

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, March 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident in the 2000 block of Thorpe Rd in Spokane, WA on March 12, 2021.

Name:  Bobbie Young
 Age: 51 years

Cause of Death: multiple stab and incised wounds

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, March 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident in the 4000 block of E Princeton in Spokane, WA on March 9, 2022.

Name:  Michael Connors
 Age: 60 years

Cause of Death: Blunt force injuries of the head and neck

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, March 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the Spokane River in Spokane, WA on March 6, 2022.

Name:  Steven Annis
 Age: 40 years

Cause of Death: Drowning

Manner: Suicide

Update 5/23/22 

SPOKANE COUNTY, March 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at W Rockwell Ave near Jefferson St in Spokane, WA on March 6, 2022.

Name:  Dustin Burrows
 Age: 41 years

Cause of Death: Multiple gunshot wounds 

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, March 7, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 1100 block of W 7th Ave in Spokane, WA on March 2, 2022.

Name:  Ammar Johnson
 Age: 28 years

Cause of Death: gunshot wound of head

Manner: Homicide 

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 24, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 14000 block of E 4th Ave in Spokane Valley, WA on February 15, 2022.

Name:  Kevin McCabe
 Age: 39 years

Cause of Death: multidrug intoxication (methamphetamine and fentanyl, with 4ANPP present)

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 24, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 9300 block of E Montgomery Ave in Spokane Valley, WA on February 06, 2022.

Name:  Joseph Quinn
 Age: 34 years

Cause of Death: multiple gunshot wounds 

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the intersection of E 2nd Ave and S Ray St in Spokane, WA on January 30, 2022.

Name:  Jeffrey Brown
 Age: 53 years

Cause of Death: Toxic amount of multiple drugs (fentanyl acetyl fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine)

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 16, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the Spokane River in Spokane, WA on February 10, 2022.

Name:  Loghan Starbuck
 Age: 25 years

Cause of Death: Asphyxia due to drowning

Manner: Suicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 14, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died at Sacred Heart Medical Center as the result of an incident at the intersection of N Market St and E Central Ave in Spokane, WA on December 31, 2021.

Name:  Juleah Marks
 Age: 29 years

Cause of Death: blunt force head injuries

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 3, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the 2900 block of S Carnahan Lane in Spokane, WA on January 27, 2022.

Name:  Becky Corigliano
 Age: 57 years

Cause of Death: chronic ethanolism

Manner: Natural

SPOKANE COUNTY, February 3, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the woman who died as the result of an incident at the 1000 block of E Mission Ave in Spokane, WA on January 24, 2022.

Name:  Sharon Watts
 Age: 73 years

Cause of Death: blunt force injuries of the head, neck, torso, and extremities

Manner: Accident

SPOKANE COUNTY, January 24, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the child who died at Sacred Heart Medical Center as the result of an incident at the 700 block of E Gordon Ave in Spokane, WA on December 7, 2021.

Name:  Serenity Murfin-Marusic
 Age: 1 years

Cause of Death: complications of fentanyl intoxication

Manner: Undetermined

SPOKANE COUNTY, January 21, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died at Sacred Heart Medical Center as the result of an incident at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, WA on March 03, 2021.

Name:  Patrick Robinson
 Age: 68 years

Cause of Death: complications of traumatic brain injury

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, January 21, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 8100 block of E Broadway  in Spokane, WA on June 20, 2021.

Name:  Aaron Hayward
 Age: 39 years

Cause of Death: complications of blunt force head injury

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, January 21, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, WA on October 16, 2021.

Name:  Levi Graven
 Age: 36 years

Cause of Death: Post-splenectomy pneumococcal sepsis with multi-organ failure, due to splenectomy after gunshot wound of abdomen

Manner: Homicide

SPOKANE COUNTY, January 19, 2022 - The Spokane County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity and cause and manner of death of the man who died as the result of an incident at the 1000 block of E Cossa Dr in Spokane, WA on January 8, 2022.

Name:  Tony Loehding
 Age: 53 years

Cause of Death: multiple gunshot wounds

Manner: Homicide


                                 Suicide Prevention Information

Approximately 45,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Life line at:

1-800-273-8255(TALK) or https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml     

Text "Hello" to 741741 to talk with a trained helper at the Crisis Text Line Or

Call locally to First call for Help Crisis Hotline 

(509) 838-4428 Or   Call 911 Or  Walk into any hospital emergency room

Definitions:

Cause of Death:
Cause of Death is used to indicate the medical cause of death, listing the disease(s) or injuries that caused death. Specific cause of death information is recorded on the death certificate and is entered into the Washington State Vital Statistic system.

Manner of Death:
Manner of Death is a statistical classification on the death certificate, the way in which death is categorized per the Washington State Department of Health (Accident, Homicide, Natural, Suicide, Undetermined).

Death Certification:
The Death certificate is a Washington State Health Department Document, NOT a Medical Examiner or Coroner document, the death certification process includes manner of death classification of (Accident, Homicide, Natural, Suicide, Undetermined), intended to describe the action associated with a death, if any, for public health department vital statistics purposes. The manner of death as used by the Office of the Medical Examiner does not address presence or absence of intent, culpability or justification of any action associated with a death and therefore any determination by the Medical Examiner of Suicide, Accident or Homicide in no way limits the ability of law enforcement to investigate to whatever extent they deem appropriate or necessary; nor is the manner of death as determined by a Medical Examiner the same as the prosecutor’s legal determination, for example, most motor vehicle deaths are classified as "accident " by the Medical Examiner, however the prosecutor may pursue a legal charge of "vehicular homicide".

Accident - is defined as a death other than natural, where there is no evidence of intent, i.e. unintentional.

Homicide - is defined as a death due to the acts of another.

Natural - is defined as a death solely by organic disease. If natural death is hastened by injury (such as a fall), the manner of death will not be considered natural.

Pending - is a temporary designation for cause and/or manner when additional investigation, information and/or test results are required for certification. Pending is amended once all information and test results are received. 

Suicide - is defined as a death as the result of a purposeful action, with intent (explicit or implicit) to end one’s life.

Undetermined - is the manner of death assigned when there is insufficient evidence or information to assign to accident, homicide, suicide or natural categories, or when 2 plausible manners are equally likely.

* See the Medical Examiner’s Annual Report for details regarding causes and manner of death is Spokane County. 

                                     Toxicology Testing

In most cases the Spokane County Medical Examiner requests a toxicology analysis from the Washington State Toxicology Lab in Seattle. This typically involves sending blood and urine samples to the lab which then screens the samples for selected medications as well as common drugs of abuse and returns a report to our office. In the past this process typically has taken approximately eight to ten weeks, depending on the lab’s work load, staffing, and the complexity of the results.

**Update 08/07/2018**

In 2017, due to staffing and funding issues, the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory began experiencing backlogs with all toxicology results throughout the state. This backlog has continued throughout 2018 with no end in sight.

Unfortunately, the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office has been affected by this backlog as have all other Medical Examiners send Coroners in the state. This office is currently unable to estimate the length of time required for toxicology results to  be returned from the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory.

                         



The postmortem report is confidential in the State of Washington (RCW 68.50.105). For information about obtaining postmortem reports, please call the Medical Examiner's Office at (509) 477-2296 or e-mail to medexam@spokanecounty.org.