News Summary
In New Orleans, Attorney General Liz Murrill has directed that another parish coroner’s office perform the autopsy of Sidney Smith, whose son was mishandled by the local coroner’s office. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by Sidney after his son’s remains were left unidentified and decomposed for nearly a month. The ruling stems from a previous court finding fault with the New Orleans Coroner’s office’s management of deceased bodies, heightening accountability and calling for systemic reform in the handling of remains.
New Orleans – Attorney General Liz Murrill has mandated that a different parish coroner’s office must conduct the autopsy of Sidney Smith, who is suffering from terminal cancer. This decision prohibits the New Orleans Coroner’s office, led by Dr. Dwight McKenna, from handling Smith’s remains following a troubling incident tied to the mismanagement of deceased bodies within the office.
The ruling comes after an investigation into the coroner’s office, which revealed that the remains of Smith’s son, Justin Smith, were left unidentified and had decomposed for nearly a month. This negligence led to Smith filing a lawsuit against the Coroner’s office. A court subsequently found the office at fault in their handling of Justin’s remains, establishing grounds for conflict of interest regarding Sidney Smith’s future autopsy.
Sidney Smith’s health status has intensified concerns as he battles stage four cancer. Following the ruling against the Coroner’s office regarding the mishandling of Justin Smith’s body, Attorney General Murrill emphasized that Dr. McKenna could not oversee the autopsy due to the established negligence. A directive issued by Murrill states that another parish coroner must be appointed to ensure a proper handling of Sidney Smith’s remains after his death.
Justin Smith, who struggled with mental illness, tragically passed away on Father’s Day, June 18, 2023, in the French Quarter. At the time of his death, Sidney Smith was in the process of trying to have his son committed under an order of protective custody, a responsibility that falls to the coroner’s office. Unknown to Sidney, Justin’s body was already in the coroner’s office. When Sidney visited the office on June 20, he was seeking a new court order for his son but was left unaware of the tragic reality surrounding Justin’s death.
It was not until nearly a month later, after receiving a tip about two unidentified bodies in the morgue, that Sidney learned his son was among them. Investigations into the case uncovered that Justin’s remains had decomposed beyond recognition while stored in a malfunctioning cooler.
This incident prompted further scrutiny of the New Orleans Coroner’s office, revealing a pattern of negligence. Sidney Smith is not the only family member seeking justice; three additional families have filed lawsuits against Dr. McKenna alleging similar failings in the handling of their deceased relatives. They claim that the coroner’s office failed to notify them in a timely manner regarding their loved ones, resulting in significant emotional distress.
As these legal matters unfold, Attorney General Murrill’s intervention underscores the importance of accountability in the oversight of the deceased and the handling of their remains. With the mandatory appointment of a different coroner for Sidney Smith’s autopsy, there is hope for a more respectful and responsible approach in managing sensitive cases involving the deceased.
As the situation develops, it raises broader questions regarding the operational standards in coroner’s offices and the necessity for systemic reform to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again. The attention surrounding these cases may lead to significant changes in how coroner’s offices across the state handle remains and communicate with bereaved families in the future.
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Additional Resources
- WWLTV: Sidney Smith Wins Legal Battle
- Wikipedia: Coroner
- Fox8Live: Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office Update
- Google Search: New Orleans Coroner Office Investigation
- WDSU: New Orleans Coroner Autopsies Update
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Forensic Pathology
- NOLA: Coroner’s Handling of Shootings
- Google News: New Orleans Coroner Lawsuit
Author: STAFF HERE NEWORLEANS WRITER
NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
