§ 4527. Death or other status of missing person. (a) Presumed death.
A written finding of presumed death, made by any person authorized to
make such findings by the federal missing persons act is prima facie
evidence of the death, and the date, circumstances and place of
disappearance. In the case of a merchant seaman, a written finding of
presumed death, made by the maritime war emergency board or by the war
shipping administration or the successors or assigns of such board or
administration in connection with war risk insurance is prima facie
evidence of the death, and the date, circumstances and place of
disappearance.

(b) Death, internment, capture and other status. An official written
report or record that a person is missing, missing in action, interned
in a neutral country, or beleaguered, besieged or captured by an enemy,
or is dead, or is alive, made by an officer or employee of the United
States authorized by law of the United States to make it is prima facie
evidence of such fact.