Preliminary autopsy following Charles Sartin’s death lacks details; cause still pending

Published 5:22 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2019

A preliminary autopsy report for 81-year-old Charles Sartin doesn’t provide much insight into his death — at least not yet.

The cause of death for the former restaurateur is pending toxicology, investigation report and medical records review, as is the manner of death, Jefferson County Pct. 7 Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett said.

Burnett pronounced Sartin deceased at a Sabine Pass home in the 5300 block of Tremont Street on Monday.

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“It looked like blunt force trauma,” Burnett said. “But at this point we can’t tell if that was the cause of death.”

Samples were submitted for toxicology, which typically takes six to eight weeks for the results to return.

There are five manners of death; natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined, and Sartin’s manner of death is pending at this time.

Sartin’s daughter, Kelli Diedre Sartin, 53, is charged with his murder and is being held on a $1 million bond.

Burnett said it appears the victim had been dead for several days.