COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County is ready to enter into an agreement with Western Michigan University Pathology Services for medical examiner duties.
The Board of Commissioners brought forward a proposal from Prosecutor Zach Stempien during their work session on Thursday after the County’s contract with its medical examiner Doctor Troy Davis recently expired.
Davis is based in Litchfield. He had been performing medical examiner duties for Branch County since 2004.
Stempien said in his memo to the Commissioners that several options were considered including renewing their previous contract with Davis or switching to a professional medical examiner.
WMU’s Homer Stryker School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology serves nearly a dozen Michigan counties.
Kathy Barone from the Dutcher Funeral Home told County Commissioners in February there was an indigent problem in the county that has led to a problem with the proper disposal of bodies. Barone said about a quarter of their business involve the removal of bodies following a Branch County Central Dispatch 911 call.
Stempien says WMU Pathology has offered to contract with the county at a starting rate of $47,100. Any autopsies or transportation costs would be additional as stated in the contract. The 2025 Branch County budget has over $82,000 for a medical examiner department.
According to Stempien, WMU has space available to store unclaimed deceased persons which would eliminate a need for Branch County to build its own morgue. Stempien feels the proposed contract with WMU Pathology would be a significant benefit for the community.
Formal action on the proposed agreement is expected to be taken by Commissioners on Tuesday afternoon.
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