Our Mission: The Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office provides professional, timely and compassionate medicolegal death investigation, serving the living, while caring for those who have died.

MRMEO investigates all sudden, unexpected deaths in order to correctly determine the cause and manner of death, legally identify each person, and ensure that the legal next of kin are notified in a timely manner.

"An important part of our work is to conduct investigations with a high level of sensitivity for the families of the deceased," says  Medical Examiner Lindsey Thomas, MD, who heads MRMEO.  "We offer compassionate care for the families, survivors and professionals involved in the investigation of an unexpected death."

The MRMEO staff includes four board certified forensic pathologists, three trained administrative staff, one senior medicolegal death investigator, a prosector, and thirty trained investigative staff. Many of the investigators are certified with the American Board of Medico-Legal Death Investigation.

In 2009, the Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office investigated 3,664 deaths and conducted 365 full or partial autopsies. 

MRMEO is one of three offices in the state accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners.

MRMEO Supports Community Health Initiatives 

The Medical Examiner's Office works in partnership with other groups to improve the health status of the community with emphasis on mass disaster planning, emergency management preparation and community health.  In addition:

• MRMEO ranks among the top in the state of Minnesota for tissue donation
  
• The Office is involved with mass disaster planning and helps set related policies for emergency response preparation
  
• MRMEO presents educational seminars for law enforcement officers in collaboration with other coroner/medical examiner offices and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
  
• MRMEO offers educational presentations for the general public including:
       -Mock car crashes for high school students (Scared Straight program)
       -Seat belt use 
       -Effects of drugs and/or tobacco on the body
       -Alcohol and drug abuse information
       -High school career development
       -College level internship program in the field of forensic science