Q: The sheriffs department has denied me copies of the autopsy pictures from my sons autopsy, how can I obtain them?
County coroners office says they did not take pictures of autopsy(only investigative pictures from the scene and they won’t release those) but the sheriffs department did take pics of autopsy. I have requested them and they denied them but I need them to have his case properly investigated. Coroners narrative says one thing while the autopsy says the opposite so I need the autopsy photos so they can be reviewed properly and without bias.
My son was not married so I am his next of kin and my understanding is I am legally able to obtain those pictures without any editing being done but they refuse?
A:
You offer no explanation for asserting that you know autopsy photos exist or why the Coroner and the Sheriff would prevent you from getting them. The easiest way to memorialize your request for the documents is to make a FOIA request. Serve one on the corner and serve another on the sheriff.
This is a copy of Tippecanoe County's public record request https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1544/Public-Records-Request-Form-PDF?bidId=
The following is a link to a more detailed discussion of the information that you must provide and information/documents that the county is obligated to provide/allow you to inspect https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1543/Public-Records-Policy-PDF?bidId=
If you make a formal request to Review documents pursuant to IC 5-14-3, you cannot be "refused" unless the requested documents/photographs do not exist. If, in response to an official request, you are advised that the documents do not exist, you must offer your reasons for believing that the documents do exist. For example, if you know that Deputy coroner John Smith took photographs but they were not included, you need to state words to the effect of "On information and belief photographs were taken by Deputy coroner John Smith that were not included in the county's response to my inquiry."
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