St. Louis City Medical Examiner: Records, Autopsy Reports

Records and autopsy reports from the medical examiner

When reports are ready: Records are released only after the forensic pathologist closes the case, generally about 3 months after the date of death. The office does not give written preliminary reports. (stlouis-mo.gov)
How to request: Families send requests to the Custodian of Records by mail, phone or email: St. Louis City Medical Examiner, Custodian of Records, 1300 Clark Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103. (stlouis-mo.gov)
Records phone: Custodian of Records: (314) 622-4976. (stlouis-mo.gov)
Records email: Custodian of Records: merecords@stlouis-mo.gov. (stlouis-mo.gov)
Paying for records: Once the record is ready the office tells you the amount due. Pay in person, online through PayIt, or by mail with a money order, cashier's check or business check; no personal checks. The record is sent within 3 business days of an online payment. payments.payitstlouis.com (stlouis-mo.gov)
Public records request: Requests from the public go through a Sunshine Law request in the city's GOV/QA system, which the Medical Examiner's Office uses; questions (314) 657-1326. stlouis-mo.gov (stlouis-mo.gov)

Office	City of St. Louis Office of the Medical Examiner
Type	Medical examiner
Address	1300 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone	(314) 622-4971
Hours	Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm (except holidays); body release Monday to Friday 8 am to 3 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm
Official page	stlouis-mo.gov

Select a funeral home as soon as possible and tell the funeral director the body is under the St. Louis City Medical Examiner's jurisdiction; the funeral home calls the office to arrange pickup.
Remains are released only with identification of the next of kin and a copy of the release signed by the next of kin. Funeral directors schedule release at (314) 622-4977.
Personal property not held as evidence is released to the funeral home. The office does not issue death certificates; request copies through the funeral home or Vital Records.

Funeral homes pay the office for cremation letters, online, in person or by mail.
In Missouri, if the cause of death is established within 72 hours, the completed death certificate goes to the local registrar before cremation. If not, the body may not be cremated until the funeral director receives written authorization from the medical examiner, coroner or physician (19 CSR 10-10.100).

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