POTEAU, Okla. -
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office has lost its good standing with a national organization. Legal experts say that could present a problem for trials or investigations that rely on their testimony, such as two homicide investigations going on in Le Flore County.
Authorities there have been waiting for two months for a toxicology report to come back in the murder of Jody Rilee-Wilson, who was found dead at the Runestone State Park in Heavener. Sheriff Bruce Curnutt says he doesn't expect the report for another four months.
"Just a routine exam from the Medical Examiner, that'll take just a day or two. But the toxicology reports, it'll usually take that length of time," he said.
According to a review from the National Medical Examiners Association, the state office is stuck using decades-old equipment and doesn't have the funding to hire enough staff to keep up with their demand; that's why the association did not renew the office's accreditation last week.
Legal experts say that could cause problems when cases such the Rilee-Wilson homicide go to trial
"it can cast some doubt it's something a defense attorney can say look you're an overworked medical examiner, maybe this report isn't as proficient as it should be," said legal analyst Irvin Box in an interview with an Oklahoma City television station.
Sheriff Curnutt says he's confident the medical examiner's work will stand up in his cases; the report also praised the quality of the medical examiners' work.
Curnutt hopes the review will lead to much-needed resources being given to the medical examiner's office.
"They're pretty well stretched out right now, if they could do a little more staffing, hire a few more people to relieve their delays and help those guys, I think it'd help out in the long run."
Authorities there have been waiting for two months for a toxicology report to come back in the murder of Jody Rilee-Wilson, who was found dead at the Runestone State Park in Heavener. Sheriff Bruce Curnutt says he doesn't expect the report for another four months.
"Just a routine exam from the Medical Examiner, that'll take just a day or two. But the toxicology reports, it'll usually take that length of time," he said.
According to a review from the National Medical Examiners Association, the state office is stuck using decades-old equipment and doesn't have the funding to hire enough staff to keep up with their demand; that's why the association did not renew the office's accreditation last week.
Legal experts say that could cause problems when cases such the Rilee-Wilson homicide go to trial
"it can cast some doubt it's something a defense attorney can say look you're an overworked medical examiner, maybe this report isn't as proficient as it should be," said legal analyst Irvin Box in an interview with an Oklahoma City television station.
Sheriff Curnutt says he's confident the medical examiner's work will stand up in his cases; the report also praised the quality of the medical examiners' work.
Curnutt hopes the review will lead to much-needed resources being given to the medical examiner's office.
"They're pretty well stretched out right now, if they could do a little more staffing, hire a few more people to relieve their delays and help those guys, I think it'd help out in the long run."
