S.C. Code Ann. § 17-5-300 – Unauthorized removal of dead body; impanelling coroner's jury

(a) It is unlawful for any person to move or authorize removal of a body from the place where the body is found until the investigation is completed and such removal is authorized by the county medical examiner or the deputy medical examiner in charge.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to move or transport a body across the county line until the investigation of the case, the postmortem examination, or autopsy is complete and until removal of the body is authorized by the county medical examiner or one of his designated assistants.
Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than sixty days, or both.
(c) If a county does not have a medical examiner commission as created by Section 17-5-220, authorization for removal of a body must be obtained from the county coroner or a deputy county coroner.
(d) No coroner's jury shall be impaneled until the investigation is completed and copies of the reports of the county medical examiner and peace officer in charge are received by the coroner. The jury is not required to view the body.