Idaho’s Lax Coroner Laws Leave Baby’s Death Uninvestigated, Sparking Outrage
In the tragic case of baby Onyxx Cooley, who died unexpectedly at 10 weeks old, the elected coroner of Bonneville County, Idaho, failed to conduct a thorough investigation, despite national guidelines recommending a full autopsy, scene investigation, and interviews with caregivers. The coroner, Rick Taylor, opted for a “paperwork autopsy,” choosing to accept the ER doctor’s initial diagnosis of SIDS without further investigation, citing Idaho’s lack of legal requirements for following national standards. This lack of thoroughness leaves the cause of Onyxx’s death unanswered and highlights the systemic issues within Idaho’s coroner system, where the state has the nation’s lowest autopsy rate for unexplained child deaths.
John Q. Hosedrinker