Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 72
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 72.405 (2026)

Definitions for chapter

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Certified coroner" or "certified deputy coroner" means a coroner or deputy coroner who has been certified by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to have successfully completed both the basic training course and annual in-service training course required by KRS 72.415, except that a deputy coroner shall be certified without completion of training courses required by KRS 72.415 if he or she is a licensed physician;

(2) "Coroner's case" means a case in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within his or her county was caused by any of the conditions set forth in KRS 72.025;

(3) "Coroner-ordered autopsy" means an autopsy ordered by the coroner having jurisdiction and performed by a pathologist pursuant to such authorization in order to ascertain the cause and manner of death in a coroner's case. In the event the pathologist deems it necessary, he or she may submit the appropriate specimen to a qualified chemist or toxicologist for analysis to assist him or her in ascertaining the cause of death in a coroner's case;

(4) "Genetic tests" means testing for genetic markers for cardiac arrhythmogenic syndromes;

(5) "Inquest" means an examination ordered by the coroner, or in his or her absence, ordered by a deputy coroner, into the causes and circumstances of any death which is a coroner's case by a jury of six (6) residents of the county impaneled and selected by the coroner to assist him or her in ascertaining the cause and manner of death; and

(6) "Post-mortem examination" means a physical examination of the body by a medical examiner or by a coroner or deputy coroner who has been certified by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and may include an autopsy performed by a pathologist; other appropriate scientific tests administered to determine cause of death, including but not limited to genetic tests; or collection of tissue samples collected pursuant to KRS 213.161(3). Effective: June 29, 2023 History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2023. -- Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 126, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2020. -- Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 151, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 195, sec. 10, effective July 15, 1982. -- Created 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 93, sec. 3, effective June 17, 1978. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/29/2023). 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 4, provides that the amendments to this statute and the creation of KRS 72.222 in 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, secs. 1 and 2, may be cited as the Micah Shantell Fletcher Law. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/29/2023). Under the authority of KRS 7.136(1), the Reviser of Statutes has renumbered certain subsections in this statute during codification to place the terms in alphabetical order. The words in the text were not changed.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2015–2025 · leading case: Skipper v. Clark, 150 F. Supp. 3d 820 (W.D. Ky. 2015).
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Skipper v. Clark, 150 F. Supp. 3d 820 (W.D. Ky. 2015). · cites it 7× “070 relating to whether and to what extent he failed to conduct a post-mortem examination of Decedent in violation of KRS 72.405. (Compl. ¶¶ 27-29). KRS 446.070 is the codification of the common-law doctrine of negligence per se.”
David Young v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2025). · cites it 4× “410(1) mandates that the coroner “investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner’s case.” KRS 72.405(2) defines coroner’s cases as those “in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within…”
Kentucky Constables Ass'n, Inc. v. Kentucky Dep't of Corr. Crim. Just. Training (Ky. Ct. App. 2025). “See KRS 72.405. This continues to be the law.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 72.405(2) — 1 case
David Young v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2025). “410(1) mandates that the coroner “investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner’s case.” KRS 72.405(2) defines coroner’s cases as those “in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 72.405(3) — 1 case
David Young v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2025). “410(1) mandates that the coroner “investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner’s case.” KRS 72.405(2) defines coroner’s cases as those “in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 72.405(4) — 1 case
Skipper v. Clark, 150 F. Supp. 3d 820 (W.D. Ky. 2015). “070 relating to whether and to what extent he failed to conduct a post-mortem examination of Decedent in violation of KRS 72.405. (Compl. ¶¶ 27-29). KRS 446.070 is the codification of the common-law doctrine of negligence per se.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 72.405(6) — 1 case
David Young v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2025). “410(1) mandates that the coroner “investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner’s case.” KRS 72.405(2) defines coroner’s cases as those “in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within…”
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