manner of death (A.C.A. §14-15-301), including gathering any information that may be helpful to making the necessary determination (A.C.A. § 14-15-301) and having access to the scene of the death (A.C.A. § 14-15-302(b)(1)); assisting "any law enforcement agency or the State Crime Laboratory upon request" (A.C.A. §14-15-302(a)); taking toxicological samples if qualified (A.C.A. §14-15-302(c)(1)); and releasing the body for final disposition in accordance with A.C.A. § 14-15-303. See Op. Att'y Gen. 94-107. In my opinion, all other authority and responsibility at a scene of death will be that of the law enforcement officials and prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction.
The foregoing opinion, which I hereby approve, was prepared by Assistant Attorney General J. Madison Barker.
Sincerely,
WINSTON BRYANT Attorney General