Coroner

A coroner is a government official who confirms and certifies the death of an individual within a jurisdiction. A coroner may also conduct or order an investigation into the manner or cause of death, and investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner's jurisdiction. Responsibilities may include overseeing the investigation and certification of deaths related to mass disasters that occur within the coroner's jurisdiction. A coroner's office typically maintains death records of those who have died within the coroner's jurisdiction.

Coroners turn up frequently in television fiction, in particular, shows of the crime drama subgenre such as Bones, the CSI family of programs and Tru Calling.

On True Blood, the character of Mike Spencer served as the coroner of the fictional town of Renard Parish in Louisiana, but he also doubled as the funeral director for the town of Bon Temps.

On Tru Calling, the main character Tru Davies worked at a morgue under the guidance of a man named Davis. She had a unique ability to commune with the spirits of the recently deceased, and through this, was able to determine the manner in which they died.