My mother was found dead in her rental home August 6, 2010. She'd died sometime the 4th or 5th of August. There was no autopsy done, her body was sent straight to the funeral home for cremation. I spoke to Ohio State officials who tell me in this instance an autopsy was required. They had no clear idea how she died. I called and received the police report. They basically allowed my youngest sister to decide how my mother died. The only problem is my youngest sister had motive to kill our mother. Officials haven't given me any answers.

I'm particularly upset because this is the second time in our family that the same County, Clinton County Ohio, neglected to do an autopsy. My father was murdered in 1973. We have credible witnesses to this fact and yet we could never get a police report or coroner's report. We tried for several years to get these things. First I was asked if I had my mother's permission. I was 18 at the time. The same when I was 20. They ruled it a suicide and let it go. Thing is, my father was shot at point blank range in the left temple. He was right handed and never held a gun in his left hand. He was in his truck at the time in a very busy parking lot. He'd just bought a cup of coffee before heading home. We have reason to believe officials were bought off in this particular case. As you said in another reply, records mysteriously disappeared the day my father died.

I am furious with this County because to me this shows negligence on the part of both the police and coroner's office. Neither of my parents have an autopsy proving how they died. What can I do besides hound the officials? My family has lived in that county for close to 50 yrs. They knew my parents well. The EMT who pronounced my mother dead was someone for whom she changed diapers and fed. Because they knew her, looks like they'd have wanted to know exactly what killed her.