Sarasota County Medical Examiner: Records, Autopsy Reports

Records and autopsy reports from the medical examiner

Autopsy report: Once the investigation is complete, Florida medical examiner records become public records available for review. (fldist12me.com)
How to request: Use the online information request form, mail a letter to the Administrative Office (4510 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34232), visit in person, or call 941-361-6909. Give the decedent's full name and date of birth or date of death. (fldist12me.com)
Report fee: Digital copies by email are free. Paper copies are $.15 per page plus postage; a disc is $15. Full case files, multi-case requests and file review or data work cost extra or $20 per hour. (fldist12me.com)
Records portal: Online information request form: choose an autopsy report by email, on disc or on paper for pickup, or by US post. fldist12me.com (fldist12me.com)
When reports are ready: A case without toxicology or other added testing may be ready within a couple of weeks. An overdose case with novel or designer drugs may take three to four months, or longer. (fldist12me.com)
Photos and X-rays: Under Florida Statute 406.135, autopsy photographs are confidential and cannot be viewed, copied or released without written next-of-kin permission. (fldist12me.com)
Cremation approval fee: $35 for bodies from Sarasota and Manatee Counties, payable to District Twelve Medical Examiner. DeSoto County has no cremation fee. (fldist12me.com)

Office	District 12 Medical Examiner (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties)
Type	Medical examiner
Address	4510 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 (administrative office); Sarasota facility at 4520 Fruitville Road
Phone	941-361-6909
Hours	Administrative office 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays; Sarasota facility body releases Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3:30 pm
Official page	fldist12me.com

Before the body is picked up, the next of kin or other legally authorized person must sign a release; questions go to the main office at 941-361-6909 (ask for the case investigator).
The medical examiner does not perform cremation, embalming or similar services.
Sarasota and DeSoto County bodies are released from the Sarasota facility Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3:30 pm; schedule pickup at 941-861-2400.

Every death where the body is to be cremated must be investigated by the medical examiner, and an approval number is given to the funeral home or crematory before cremation.
Florida law (F.S. 406.11(1)(c)) puts every body that is to be cremated under the district medical examiner's review.
Fee. $35 for Sarasota County deaths (county ordinance 2008-083)

Official pages only, each with the day we read it. Hours and fees change: call first.