(A)

(1) The coroner shall make a reasonable effort to notify any known relatives of a deceased person who meets death in the manner described by section 313.12 of the Revised Code by letter or otherwise. The coroner shall also make a reasonable effort to determine the identity of the person who has been assigned the rights of disposition for the deceased person under sections 2108.70 to 2108.90 of the Revised Code and shall notify that person. After the coroner has completed the performance of the coroner's legal duties with respect to the body of the deceased person, the coroner shall return the body to that person.

(2) The coroner shall take charge and possession of all moneys, clothing, and other valuable personal effects of the deceased person, found in connection with or pertaining to the body, and shall store the possessions in the county coroner's office or such other suitable place as is provided for that storage by the board of county commissioners. If the coroner considers it advisable, the coroner may, after taking adequate precautions for the security of those possessions, store the possessions where the coroner finds them until other storage space becomes available. The person who has been assigned the rights of disposition for the deceased person under sections 2108.70 to 2108.90 of the Revised Code may request the coroner to give those possessions to that person. After the person who has been assigned the rights of disposition for the deceased person under sections 2108.70 to 2108.90 of the Revised Code, upon the person's request under this division, receives the possessions of the deceased person from the coroner, that person shall deliver the possessions to the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased person or to any other person who is legally entitled to any of those possessions.

(B) In cases in which the cost of the burial is paid by the county, after using such of the clothing as is necessary in the burial of the body, the coroner shall sell at public auction the valuable personal effects of the deceased persons, found in connection with or pertaining to the unclaimed dead body, except firearms, which shall be disposed of as provided in division (C) of this section. The coroner shall make a verified inventory of the effects and they shall be sold within eighteen months after burial, or after delivery of the body in accordance with section 1713.34 of the Revised Code. All moneys derived from the sale shall be deposited in the county treasury. A notice of the sale shall be given in one newspaper of general circulation in the county, for five days in succession, and the sale shall be held immediately thereafter. The cost of such advertisement and notices shall be paid by the board upon the submission of a verified statement for that cost, certified to the coroner.

(C) If a firearm is included in the personal effects of a deceased person who meets death in the manner described by section 313.12 of the Revised Code, the coroner shall deliver the firearm to the chief of police of the municipal corporation within which the body is found, or to the sheriff of the county if the body is not found within a municipal corporation. Upon delivery of the firearm to the chief of police or the sheriff, the chief of police or sheriff shall give the coroner a receipt for the firearm that states the date of delivery and an accurate description of the firearm. The firearm shall be used for evidentiary purposes only.

The person who has been assigned the rights of disposition for the deceased person under sections 2108.70 to 2108.90 of the Revised Code may request that the firearm be given to that person once the firearm is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes. The chief of police or the sheriff shall give the firearm to that person who requested the firearm only if the person may lawfully possess the firearm under applicable law of this state or the United States. The chief of police or the sheriff shall keep a record identifying the person to whom the firearm is given, the date the firearm was given to that person, and an accurate description of the firearm. The person to whom the firearm is given upon the person's request under this division shall deliver the firearm to the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased person or to any other person who is legally entitled to the firearm.

If the person who has been assigned the rights of disposition for the deceased person under sections 2108.70 to 2108.90 of the Revised Code does not request the firearm or is not entitled to possess the firearm, the firearm shall be used at the discretion of the chief of police or the sheriff.

(D) This section does not invalidate section 1713.34 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 595, §1, eff. 3/22/2019.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 240, §1, eff. 8/31/2016.

Effective Date: 08-19-1982 .