Michigan parents still waiting for daughter’s autopsy report 19 months after death as questions grow around former forensic company

What happened after their daughter’s death has left the family frustrated, heartbroken and demanding accountability.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Nearly 19 months after their 17 year old daughter died unexpectedly in her sleep, Erik and Kate Miller say they still have not received a completed autopsy report and are demanding answers from the former forensic pathology company that handled her case.

Their daughter, Grace Miller, died Oct. 7, 2024, after Erik Miller found her unresponsive in her bedroom before school.

“He knocked on the door and she didn’t answer,” Kate Miller said during an interview. “He opened the door and she had passed away in her sleep.”

The Upper Peninsula teenager was described by her parents as a bright student with ambitious dreams for the future. She participated in track, drama and National Honor Society and ranked in the top 10 of her class.

“She either wanted to be an astrophysicist or an environmental economist,” Erik Miller said.

According to the Millers, Grace had a history of cardiac arrhythmia and had recently seen a cardiologist about six weeks before her death. During that visit, she wore a Holter monitor for several days and was reportedly told to return in two years.

The family said her death certificate listed “history of cardiac arrhythmia” as the cause of death, but they say they still do not have an official autopsy report explaining exactly what happened.

Schoolcraft County contracts out autopsies to outside providers. In Grace’s case, the autopsy was sent to the Michigan Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine in Saginaw, which was operated by Dr. David Stockman.

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The family said they later discovered the company had permanently closed.

According to MLIVE, Stockman filed bankruptcy for one of his entities, delaying a court order requiring him to pay more than $550,000 to another physician in a defamation case.

Despite repeated requests over more than a year, the Millers said they still have not received a final autopsy report.

“Yesterday was 19 months after she died and we do not have an autopsy report,” Kate Miller said.

The family said they submitted formal requests directly to the company and later filed Freedom of Information Act requests with Schoolcraft County and Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, known as LARA.

Documents obtained through LARA show the Millers formally filed a complaint against Dr. David Stockman and the Michigan Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine in June 2025.

In that complaint, the family wrote they had made “multiple email and phone requests over the span of eight months” but still had not received a final report.

LARA says the investigation into Dr. Stockman remains active but can’t give any further information at this time.

“This ongoing delay has caused immense emotional distress and has prevented us from pursuing necessary genetic testing and legal follow up,” the complaint states.

The complaint also alleges the family believes the conduct “may constitute unprofessional behavior, gross negligence, or a breach of responsibilities under the scope of Michigan licensed forensic medical practice.”

The Millers said they eventually received toxicology results showing no drugs or substances were detected, but they still do not have a completed autopsy report.

“We do have the toxicology report and that showed everything was negative,” Erik Miller said.

The family now questions whether a full autopsy was ever completed.

“We’ve been told, but do we know? No,” Erik Miller said.

The records reviewed by the family also show several complaints against Dr. Stockman remain listed as “in review.”

Schoolcraft County Prosecutor Tim Noble told me he was told by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs the case against Dr. Stockman is currently sitting at the Michigan Attorney General’s office. I have reached out to The AG’s office for comment but have not yet heard back from anyone.

Other Complaints into Dr. Stockman:

According to a report from ABC12, a judge entered a default judgment of more than $130,000 against Dr. David Stockman, another individual, and Great Lakes Bay Staffing after a lawsuit filed by Wildfire Credit Union.

The report states the lawsuit involved unpaid debts and that the defendants failed to properly respond in court, leading to the default judgment. ABC12 also reported the case was part of broader legal and financial troubles surrounding Stockman, who has faced multiple lawsuits and investigations in recent years.

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The Alger County, Michigan Board of Commissioners have sent a letter to a law firm regarding concerns over missing autopsy reports tied to former contracted medical examiner Dr. David Stockman, according to My UP Now. The board said families have been waiting extended periods for reports and raised concerns about accountability and communication as questions continue surrounding uncompleted autopsies and records connected to Stockman’s work in the Upper Peninsula.

Frustration Grows

The Millers said their frustration extends beyond their own case and into what they see as broader failures in oversight.

“Where’s the oversight?” Kate Miller said. “Where’s the adult in the room to make sure that what was supposed to be done was actually done?”

The family said they are also trying to determine whether tissue samples from Grace’s case still exist so they can pursue genetic testing that could help provide medical answers for surviving family members.

“At this point, we have no recourse to find out where those tissues are being held or how we can get them tested,” Erik Miller said.

The family said they have spoken with local officials, filed complaints and reached out to lawmakers in hopes of preventing similar situations from happening to other grieving families.

“It’s landed on the grieving parents’ shoulders to get answers,” Kate Miller said.

The Millers said they are continuing to push for accountability while trying to cope with the loss of their daughter.

“She died, and since then it has just been one thing after another,” Kate Miller said.

The Millers aren’t alone. There are families throughout the state of Michigan in similar situations, waiting for autopsy reports on their loved ones.

My contact with Dr. Stockman

I reached out to Dr. Stockman via phone and email several times and did not get any response.

On Tuesday, May 19, I went to Dr. David Stockman’s practice in Saginaw Township to request comment. Stockman declined an on camera interview but provided his cell phone number and asked that I text him for a statement. I sent a text message after leaving the office and, as of publication, had not received a response.