inquest
n. countablen. an official investigation to find out the cause of someone's death. It usually happens when the death was sudden or violent.
n. a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident, most commonly a sudden or unexplained death. Often conducted by a coroner or a jury.
The coroner opened an inquest into the fatal accident.
Following the discovery of the body, the local authorities ordered an inquest to determine if there was any foul play.
The public inquest revealed significant safety failures at the factory, leading to a complete overhaul of the regional building codes and industrial regulations.
From Middle English enquest, from Old French enqueste (Modern French enquête), from Vulgar Latin inquirere, or from Medieval Latin inquesta < in + Latin quaesita.
Often takes the preposition 'into' to specify the subject of the investigation.