The Coroner is responsible for reporting all County deaths and performing a full investigation, with the exception of hospice and natural cause hospital deaths.

The Benton County Coroner is responsible for investigating all deaths in the county with the exception of hospice and hospital patients that died from natural causes (minimum of 24 hour stay at the hospital). All other deaths, including nursing home and emergency room deaths, must be reported and/or investigated by the coroner.

Some of the Coroner's duties include:

• Determine the time, cause, manner of death.
• Perform investigations
• Draw fluid samples from, photograph, diagram, inventory, and inspect the body for evidence, property, and injuries that may not have been discovered at the scene. (The Coroner does not do autopsies)
• Report deaths to all appropriate agencies (Local, State, and Federal).
• Maintain all records, reports, and photos from investigations.
• Maintain statistical data concerning deaths in the county.
• Provide a safety net for EMS, facilities, families, and physicians by insuring that proper/adequate care was given at the time of event or injury.
• Provide support to the medical examiner by obtaining reports, medical records, scene condition, and post mortem conditions of the body to determine the time and date of death.