2005 Rhode Island Code - § 23-4-10 — Disposition of deceased bodies.

    The office of state medical examiners shall, after any postmortem examination or any autopsy, promptly release the deceased body to the relatives or representatives of the deceased. The cost of transporting the deceased body to a mortuary within the state of the relatives' choice shall be borne by the state if the autopsy was required to be performed as provided in this chapter. If there are no known relatives or representatives, the office of state medical examiners, after reasonable public notices, shall cause the body of the deceased person to be buried. The general treasurer of the state shall have first priority in recovering the expenses of burial from the estate of the deceased person.