22 M.R.S. §3029: Body buried without inquiry

1. Notification of district attorney or Attorney General. If in any medical examiner case:

A. The body is buried:

(1) Without inquiry or examination by the medical examiner;

(2) Before the inquiry or examination has been completed to the satisfaction of the medical examiner; or

(3) Without an autopsy if such was advisable pursuant to section 3028; and

B. The body is required for that inquiry, examination, completion or autopsy, the medical examiner shall notify the district attorney, for the district in which the body was found, or the Attorney General.

2. Petition for order of exhumation. The district attorney or Attorney General may, under the circumstances enumerated in subsection 1 and if the district attorney or Attorney General finds it to be in the public interest, petition a justice of the Superior Court for an order of exhumation.

3. Report of findings. The medical examiner, Chief Medical Examiner or pathologist who completes the inquiry, examination or autopsy shall report the findings to the justice and to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.