2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §11-596  Removal or disturbance of body or effects or weapons without consent prohibited

No human body or body suspected of being human shall be removed from the place where the death, if the death is of a nature requiring investigation occurred without first obtaining permission of the county medical examiner or the person performing the duties of a county medical examiner. No embalming, cleansing of the surfaces of the body or other alteration of the appearance or state of the body, clothing or personal effects shall be performed until the permission of such official has been obtained. No person, except a law enforcement agent in the performance of his or her duties, shall remove from the place of death or from the body of the deceased any of the effects of the deceased, or instruments or weapons that may have been used in the death requiring investigation, unless prior permission of the county medical examiner, the person performing the duties of a county medical examiner or the investigating law enforcement agent has been obtained.