Jean L Maness Autopsy

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Greetings,
A FOIA request was filed with the Dallas County Medical Examiner July 5 2018 for the autopsy of Jean L Maness DOB Dec 2 1955 and Date of Death Sep 28 1996.
Place of death is recorded as Madison County Texas. The victims SSN 457116976.

The Dallas Medical Examiner has notified us they cannot release the autopsy until they have your authorization to do so. This is rather unusual as the victim has been deceased for many years. In the process of investigative journalism autopsy's are often requested though an FOIA and only when the death is still being investigated have authorities declined said request. No one has of yet reported the victim being investigated and her death was ruled a suicide.

Here is a copy of the text sent in this matter from the Dallas Medical Examiner
OFFICE OF THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER

July 25, 2018
MuckRock News
Dept. MR 57363
411A Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02144?2516

RE: JP3089-96

Dear Ms. Valkova:

We have received your request on July 5, 2018 for the following:
(1) COPY of the autopsy report on Jean Maness

In response to your request, the Office of the Attorney General has determined and ruled that
these are records ?in the constructive possession of the justice of the peace. Our office has not
received authorization to release the records. For a copy of the autopsy report please contact the
office of Madison County Justice of the Peace Judge Lew Plotts, Jr.

Hon. Lew Plotts, Jr.
Justice of the Peace

Pct. 2, Madison County
101 West Main, Ste. 130
Madisonville, TX 77864

Thank You,
Records Department

Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas
Of?ce of the Medical Examiner

2355 N. Stemmons Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75207

(214)920-5900

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

alice valkova