In the state of New Mexico, when a person's death is unexpected and the cause of death in not immediately known or when the death is the result of violence due to an accident, suicide or homicide, it will be investigated by the Office of the Medical Investigator. New Mexico has a statewide medical examiner system, with specially trained investigators in every community.
Investigations allow a collection of facts surrounding all unnatural or unexplained deaths.
Sometimes the facts will allow the medical investigator to close the case and have the private physician file the death certificate. There are many aspects to unexpected deaths, and the medical investigator's office is empowered by legislative statue to determine cause and manner of death. In addition, the OMI is responsible for determining relationships to environmental hazards, job safety violations, consumer product dangers, public health threats, and for providing evidence in criminal matters and other judicial proceedings. The investigation will start at the location of the death. Specially trained medical investigators will be called in by the police.