Snohomish, King counties discuss autopsy authority

Escaped convict Harold McCord Jr. was shot in Snohomish County. He died in a King County hospital.

So when an autopsy needed to be done, it was the King County medical examiner’s job.

Soon, Snohomish County medical examiner Norm Thiersch will be able to decide whether autopsies in similar cases should be done here.

The Snohomish County Council is expected to approve an agreement Wednesday that would allow Thiersch to conduct death investigations when people are fatally injured here, but die in King County.

If the King County Council also approves the agreement, it would end debate about which county could call an inquest under those circumstances.

McCord’s death at a Seattle hospital, after he’d been shot during a police raid in Monroe in June 2003, triggered a court battle to answer that question.

King County Executive Ron Sims ordered an inquest in November, with the support of then-Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel. The official review of McCord’s death, held in a King County courtroom, found that officers were justified in shooting McCord.

Had the medical examiner agreement been in place when McCord died, Thiersch could have conducted McCord’s autopsy. It then would have been up to him to decide whether to hold an inquest.

Although people seriously injured in Snohomish County often are rushed to Seattle trauma hospitals, the agreement would only be used in a handful of cases every year, Thiersch said.

“For the most part it would be for criminal cases, for homicides,” Thiersch said.

“It would provide more efficient functioning of this office and law enforcement investigations for this county,” he said.

Thiersch said he proposed a similar agreement several years ago, but King County turned it down.

“More recently, they’ve had a change of heart,” he said. “After the (McCord case) arose, we started hearing more from them about it.”

Under the agreement, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office would notify Thiersch if someone who was hurt here died in King County.

Thiersch would then decide if he wanted to conduct the death investigation. If not, King County would perform the autopsy.

“We do think it’s a beneficial arrangement for King County,” said James Apa, a spokesman for Public Health – Seattle and King County. “The McCord case highlighted the jurisdictional challenge,” he said.

Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.