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Medical Examiner
1308 West Street
Wausau, WI 54401

P: 715-261-1199
F: 715-261-1198
Email

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Blahnik, Jessica
Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email
Wimmer, Christina
Chief Deputy Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email
Drake Heck, Cortney
Deputy Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email
Scheidt, Leah
Deputy Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email
Wiesman, Kimberly
Deputy Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email
Linke, David
Deputy Medical Examiner
- (715) 261-1199
- Email

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FAQs

What is cause and manner of death?

Cause of death:the natural disease or traumatic injury which initiates the sequence of events resulting in an individual’s death.

Proximate cause of death:the disease process or injury which represents the starting point in an unbroken chain of events, ending in death—for example, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip fracture, etc.

Immediate cause of death:the complication or sequelae of the proximate cause of death, which is related to the proximate cause but does not represent an intervening cause of death —for example, myocardial infarct, respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonia, failure to thrive, etc.

Manner of death:a classification of how a cause of death arouse, which include natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined.
What is the difference between a Coroner and Medical Examiner?

In Wisconsin, each county has the opportunity to select its death investigation system: a coroner system or a medical examiner system. Both systems have the same authority under Wisconsin State Statute. The main difference is that a Coroner is an elected official that serves a four-year term, where a Medical Examiner is appointed by a County Administrator or Executive. Neither system requires a Medical Examiner or Coroner to be a physician in Wisconsin.

In Marathon County, we operate as a Medical Examiner system.

The Coroner or Medical Examiner is mandated by the State of Wisconsin to determine the cause and manner of death of deceased individuals by means of investigation, toxicology, and postmortem examination. These include cases of homicide, suicide, accidental, and all natural deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or medically unattended.
Why is the Medical Examiner involved?
The Medical Examiner’s Office determines whether a death falls within their legal jurisdiction, as outlined by Wisconsin State Statutes. There are many factors that help determine if a death falls within jurisdiction, including past medical history, circumstances surrounding the death, witness interviews, place the death occurred, etc. The Medical Examiner’s Office will consider each case individually and determine whether it falls within the legal jurisdiction of the office. If the Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office assumes jurisdiction, the Medical Examiner will decide what level of investigation/examination is necessary to determine the cause and manner of death.

Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 979.01, the Medical Examiner's Office is required to investigate deaths that fall into the following categories:
- All deaths in which there are unexplained, unusual, or suspicious circumstances
- All homicides
- All suicides
- All accidental deaths
- All maternal deaths following an abortion
- All deaths due to poisoning, whether homicidal, suicidal, or accidental
- All deaths where an injury has possibly contributed to the cause of death, whether the injury is or is not the primary cause of death and regardless of the interval of the time between the injury and the date of death.
- Where no physician or accredited practitioner is willing to act as the medical certifier of the death.
- When the physician caring for the decedent refuses to sign the death certificate.
- When after reasonable efforts, a physician is not available to certify the death as required within 6 days following the pronouncement of death or sooner under circumstances which the Medical Examiner determines to be an emergency.
- All deaths occurring while the person is in the custody of a law enforcement agency, state/federal department of corrections, or any death involving actions of a law enforcement officer.
- All deaths in the emergency room or outpatient area of a health care facility that occur within 24 hours of admittance.
- All deaths associated with a diagnostic, anesthetic, or therapeutic procedure.
- All deaths of public health interest, including infectious disease, communicable conditions, and/or terrorism.
- If a death is a miscarriage and 20 weeks or more have lapsed between the mother's last menstrual period and delivery, or stillbirth weighs 350 grams and the delivery is unattended by a physician or practitioner.
- All deaths occurring in a place other than a hospital or nursing home that are not registered with a Hospice Program licensed by the State Department of Health and Social Services, HSS 131.
- All deaths of a child under the age of 17 years, unless a physician certifies the manner and cause of death as natural.
- All deaths attributable entirely or in part to workplace factors.
- All cases where human or unidentified remains are discovered outside of a cemetery or documented burial plot.
Although the above cases must be reported, the Medical Examiner’s Office has the authority to accept or decline jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis. If the jurisdiction is declined, the attending physician signs the death certificate, and the disposition of the body is the responsibility of the next of kin.

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Medical Examiner

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The Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office is dedicated to providing professional, accurate, and efficient medicolegal death investigation to the residents of Marathon County. The Medical Examiner’s Office investigates deaths and issues cremation authorizations and disinterment permits as outlined by Wisconsin State Statutes.

The agency is committed to the dignified and compassionate performance of these duties with impartiality and the highest level of professionalism in the service of the citizens of Marathon County and its medical and legal communities.

What We Do

The Medical Examiner’s Office conducts an independent investigation into each death falling under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner to determine the cause, circumstances, and manner of death. The Medical Examiner’s Office works with law enforcement, public health, and health care system partners to facilitate a comprehensive and accurate death investigation.

The Medical Examiner’s Office is responsible for assisting with final disposition of all remains, mass fatality preparedness, death prevention initiatives, community awareness and education, close follow-up with affected families, and collaboration with other agencies involved in death investigations. The Medical Examiner’s Office also provides expert forensic testimony in court when needed, as well as documentation of investigative findings for their use.

Wisconsin Statute 979.01 requires that any person having knowledge of an unexplained, unusual, or suspicious death shall report such death to the medical examiner for investigation. These deaths may include homicide, suicide, accidents where the injury is or is not the primary cause of death, death without a physician in attendance, or death in which the attending physician refuses to sign the death certificate. Investigations are conducted by the Medical Examiner’s office for certifying the cause and manner of death.

Contacting Our Office

If you are family member or friend that needs to report a death, please call 911 immediately.
If you work for a healthcare facility or agency and need to report a death that meets immediate reporting criteria, please call the Marathon County 911 Communications Center at 715-261-7792 and request for the on call Medical Examiner to be paged.
For general inquires or to speak to a staff member, please call 715-261-1199 Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

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