BUFFALO — The death of a baby has led to an unusual legal showdown that forced a judge to decide between an autopsy or organ donation.

In the end, a transplant group hoping to save the 13-month-old’s liver and heart lost.

Authorities in Buffalo say the baby was declared braindead Monday and his parents agreed to donate his organs.

But county medical examiners were opposed because the death was suspicious and required an autopsy that would destroy the organs.

The transplant group took the issue to court, where a justice on Tuesday sided with the county.

The death was ruled a homicide Wednesday after the autopsy.