MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board of Commissioners revealed that county officials had driven across the bridge to acquire missing autopsy and toxicology reports for county families at their biweekly meeting on Tuesday.

Marquette County Board Chairman Joe Derocha and Marquette County Undersheriff Lowell Larson both traveled downstate to Saginaw on Monday with the intent of acquiring 22 overdue autopsy reports from Dr. David Stockman, the county’s former medical examiner, and the Michigan Institute of Forensic Science & Medicine.

“We left yesterday in an attempt to recover the 22 autopsy reports that the former provider has not completed. I don’t want to use the words ‘We’re happy’ because we don’t have closure yet, but we were able to recover 18,” said Derocha at Tuesday night’s meeting.

When Derocha and Larson arrived on Monday, the MIFSM was locked with only one vehicle parked in the back, and no one answered when Undersheriff Larson knocked and rang the bell. On Tuesday morning, they were able to obtain 11 reports and some additional case files, but 11 reports still remain incomplete. These files are necessary to file death certificates with the county, which allows the family to receive benefits such as life insurance.

“This doctor, he needs to know the importance of closure for these families and the hardship he’s causing by playing games,” Derocha expressed.

The Board is still considering legal action against Dr. Stockman. Karl Numinen, the Board’s legal counsel, will be tasked with proceeding if legal action is decided to be pursued. The Board will continue working to retrieve the 11 remaining reports in order to provide closure to the families.

More updates on this story will be provided as they become available.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.