Beaufort coroner refuses to release autopsy report

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The Beaufort County coroner has refused to release an autopsy report to a Charleston newspaper.

The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/qnH8sW ) requested the autopsy report of Thomas Bardin Jr., the former Legislative Audit Council director who died in Beaufort on Aug. 27 after jogging.

Coroner Ed Allen confirmed Bardin died of natural causes, but told the newspaper he only releases complete autopsy reports to the immediate family. When a reporter told him other counties have released reports to the paper, Allen said he didn’t care what other counties did.

South Carolina Press Association lawyer Jay Bender says coroner reports are public records. Bender is arguing a case against the Sumter County coroner who refused to release the autopsy report of a man shot by police.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com