Oregon Man Mistakenly Declared Dead Found Alive

Medical Examiner's Office Changes Identification Protocols After Error

Tyler John Chase, a 23-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, was mistakenly declared dead by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office in September 2023.
The error occurred because the deceased person was found with Chase's wallet and temporary Oregon driver's license.
Chase's family was given a death certificate and an urn of ashes, believing they were Chase's.
The mistake was discovered in December 2023 when Chase visited a Department of Human Services office and was told he had been declared dead.
The medical examiner's office has since changed its protocols, requiring fingerprint submission for positive identification for all individuals found with a temporary state-issued identification.