Pennsylvania coroners refuse to release autopsy reports – and that hinders research on deaths in custody

When coroners shield their records from public view, they’re not just violating the public trust. Often, they’re also breaking the law.

By: Jonah Walters, University of California, Los Angeles, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 24, 2026

Words: 2,892

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Jonah Walters, University of California, Los Angeles

Independent journalist Derek Sherwood submitted a records request in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in January 2026. He requested an autopsy report related to a 1987 cold case that he was researching for a book project. After Coroner Scott Sayers denied the request, Sherwood successfully appealed to the Office of Open Records, or OOR, a state agency responsible for adjudicating Right-To-Know Law disputes.

But Sayers still refused to …

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