Medicolegal Death Investigator I

About the role

The Medicolegal Death Investigator I position supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) by conducting medicolegal death investigations and assisting with postmortem examinations to determine cause and manner of death. The role involves communicating with law enforcement, hospitals, funeral homes, and families to gather case information and ensure proper evidence handling. Work includes attending death scenes, collecting and documenting evidence, performing radiography and fingerprinting for identification, and submitting biometric samples to appropriate agencies.

• Conduct death scene investigations and collect evidence to support medicolegal determinations.
• Perform postmortem procedures such as radiographic imaging, fingerprinting, and skeletal analysis to assist with identification.
• Submit DNA and fingerprint samples to state and federal agencies for processing and comparison.
• Communicate with law enforcement, medical providers, and other agencies to gather case information and coordinate investigative activities.
• Receive and document incoming death reports, determine jurisdiction, and enter case data into the medical examiner system.
• Aid in external examinations through photography, evidence documentation, and collection of toxicology specimens.
• Support training initiatives for interns and professionals in medicolegal death investigation and forensic identification.
• Manage cold case investigations by researching historical data and applying updated forensic methods.
• Provide testimony in court regarding investigative findings and evidence handling when required.
• Participate in mass-fatality operations, including scene coordination and multi-agency communication.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, candidates must meet the minimum education and experience requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in science (biology, chemistry, nursing, anthropology, forensic sciences, biochemistry, or related sciences field), or criminal justice from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Two years of medicolegal death investigation experience.

Skills and Abilities

Preferred skills and abilities include:

• Demonstrated experience conducting death scene investigations, including evidence collection, detailed documentation, and coordination with law enforcement under established chain-of-custody requirements.
• Proven skill performing postmortem identification tasks such as radiographic imaging, fingerprinting, and skeletal analysis, with consistent application of forensic procedures to support case findings.
• Intermediate proficiency using electronic case management systems to enter, track, and maintain investigative data in a high-volume medicolegal environment.
• Documented experience preparing investigative reports and supporting case determinations through accurate photography, injury documentation, and collection of toxicology and biometric specimens.
• Demonstrated skill delivering training or guidance in medicolegal investigation topics, including jurisdictional principles, identification techniques, and scene documentation practices.

Pay

The salary grade range for this position is $55,490.00 - $83,235.00, with a recruitment range of $55,490.00 - $55,490.00.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is typically full-time.