There are many professionals that fall under the broad umbrella of forensic science, ranging from laboratory analysts to crime scene specialists. At the Virginia Department of Health, we are proud to shine a spotlight on the dedicated experts within the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) – Medical Examiners, Medicolegal Death Investigators, Forensic Autopsy Technicians and support staff who specialize in the unique operations of the OCME – whose scientific work and public service are essential to understanding deaths, supporting families, and strengthening the safety and well-being of communities across the Commonwealth. Virginia OCME is one of only 16 centralized statewide Medical Examiner systems in the country.
This week, we’re celebrating the dedicated professionals of the Virginia OCME – the people who work every day to uncover the truth behind unexplained and unexpected deaths. The experts at the OCME rely on meticulous, unbiased scientific investigation to support Virginia’s justice system, protect public health, and bring clarity to families during their most difficult moments.
Whether they are responding to and investigating death scenes, performing forensic autopsies, obtaining and collecting evidence, OCME staff transform complex questions into meaningful answers. And when those answers matter in court, they provide clear, scientifically grounded expert testimony that helps ensure the truth is understood.
In the Field of Forensic Science –
Forensic science is the application of science to matters of criminal justice. Within the OCME there are several critical roles that use scientific principles and techniques while working together to serve communities across Virginia:
Forensic Pathologists (Chief Medical Examiner, District Chief Medical Examiners, Assistant Chief Medical Examiners)
Doctors trained in forensic pathology who determine the cause and manner of death. Through autopsies, medical record reviews, laboratory analysis, and evidence interpretation, they uncover the medical facts that explain how—and why—someone died. They also testify in court when needed, ensuring scientific accuracy informs legal decisions.
Medicolegal Death Investigators
The first OCME representatives to be notified of a death, these investigators are the ones who receive the initial report of death to obtain essential information needed to determine medical examiner jurisdiction. When investigating a death scene, they document evidence at the scene in relation to the decedent. They are the eyes for the Forensic Pathologists on the scene and receive specialized training and certification to ensure that the appropriate details are collected during the report of death and while responding to the scenes. Their detailed work provides the foundation for every case, helping Forensic Pathologists build a complete and accurate understanding of what happened.
Forensic Autopsy Technicians
These highly skilled professionals support Forensic Pathologists with preparing and performing autopsies, assisting with specialized procedures, documenting findings, and ensuring proper handling of biological and physical evidence. Their technical expertise and precision help maintain the integrity and quality of every examination conducted at the OCME.
Local Medical Examiners
Local Medical Examiners are local licensed health care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants) who volunteer to participate in training provided by the OCME and serve their communities by working in consultation with and under the direction of forensic pathologists to perform forensic external examinations of decedents who require a death investigation but do not require a full autopsy. Their work as Local Medical Examiners is in addition to their regular medical practices and benefits their communities and the Commonwealth by extending professional medicolegal death investigation services into all localities in Virginia.
Other OCME Essential Personnel
Every staff member within the OCME – whether working in the morgue or histology lab, investigating a death scene, supporting administrative functions to ensure continuity of operations, or managing complex identification cases – plays a crucial part in delivering thorough, compassionate, and scientifically sound medicolegal death investigation services to the people of Virginia.
Specialized Skills Supporting Virginia OCME
The Virginia OCME does not employ forensic anthropologists or forensic odontologists directly on staff; however, the office maintains agreements with qualified consultants who provide these specialized services when needed.
Forensic Anthropologists
Read the clues written in our bones. By examining skeletal remains, they help identify trauma, distinguish human from non-human remains, and offer critical insight in cases where traditional examination methods cannot immediately reveal the circumstances of death.
Forensic Odontologists
Forensic Odontologists assist in the identification of individuals. These experts analyze dental records, compare postmortem and antemortem findings and help confirm identity when other means of identification are not possible.
The Virginia OCME also partners closely with the Department of Forensic Science (DFS), which provides several critical forensic services that support medicolegal death investigations. These include comprehensive toxicology testing, firearms and toolmarks examinations that help determine what weapon may have been used, and DNA analysis to assist with confirming the identity of the decedent. More information about DFS can be found here.
For additional information on the work of the experts behind medicolegal death investigations in Virginia, visit The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia.
Citations: American Academy of Forensic Sciences and The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia.
