The following excerpt is from Arkansasonline.com
Sebastian County Coroner Kenneth Hobbs keeps detailed reports for every death in his county. Just don’t ask him about anyone who died before he took office at the beginning of this year.
Hobbs said his office does not have reports for any death before Jan. 1, when he started. Those files were written under his predecessor, who did not bring them to the county office before he retired, Hobbs said.
That means the reports, which log details on where, when and how a person died, aren’t readily accessible, a problem that experts say may not be illegal but is impractical and unnecessary. The reports are referenced by a slew of groups, including law enforcement, prosecutors, insurance adjusters and family members, well after a person dies.
Hobbs’ predecessor, Terry Campbell, keeps the reports from his 10-year tenure at his home and in storage, Campbell said in a brief interview. It was his understanding that once a coroner leaves, he or she keeps those records, he said. The coroner before him who held the job for 20 years did the same, he added.