Forensic facility expansion to address autopsy demand in Williamson County
GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A forensic facility under construction in Williamson County may help to address the growing number of autopsies. The county currently does not have a medical examiner, which means the Justice of the Peace is responsible for that position.
In March 2024, KXAN Investigator Arezow Doost spoke with a family that waited months for answers. Cindy Dennis-Pollard said it took eight months to get the autopsy back for her 63-year-old father.
“My dad was in a freezer at the funeral home around the street from my house — every day I drove to work, I would have to pass my dad.”
Cindy Dennis-Pollard
‘Answers in a timely manner’
On Thursday, organizers broke ground on the new space for Hill Country Forensics in Georgetown. It will expand from 5,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet.
“We’re currently renting a spot, and it’s already too small for what we need to do,” said Hill Country Forensics Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr. Satish Chundru. “We’re actually doubling the size to accommodate for the growth.”
-
Hill Country Forensics’ new facility is expected to be completed by September 2025. (Photo: KXAN) -
Hill Country Forensics’ new facility is expected to be completed by September 2025. (Photo: KXAN) -
Hill Country Forensics’ new facility is expected to be completed by September 2025. (Photo: KXAN) -
Dr. Satish Chundru is a forensic pathologist with more than twenty years of experience investigating deaths and serious injuries. (Photo: KXAN)
The space will include forensics lab space and office areas.
“We want to make it a warm, welcoming environment. Particularly if families come by, we want to make sure that they’re in a very comfortable area to grieve.”
Dr. Satish Chundru, Hill Country Forensics Chief Forensic Pathologist
Chundru explained that their case load has increased over the years. Towards the end of 2020, he said they had 450 cases; but this past year, 790 cases.
This new facility will have the capacity to do three cases at once, according to Chundru. Right now, they are able to do two, but he said it is in a tight space. Chundru claimed this expansion could improve how fast a family gets answers.
“It’s kind of sometimes the worst day of a family’s life,” Chundru said. “So if we’re able to bring closure by giving them the right answers in a timely fashion, it really just helps the community.”
Currently no medical examiner
Hill Country Forensics works with Williamson County judges on their autopsies.
“Williamson County is the largest county in Texas that does not have a medical examiner. That means that the issuance of death certificates and the determination of cause of death falls to the Justices of the Peace. There’s only four in Williamson County,” explained Judge KT Musselman, Williamson County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 1.
According to a previous KXAN Investigation, data showed the number of death investigations conducted by Williamson County Justice of the Peace judges has increased by 120% in the past decade — from 464 cases annually to 1,024.
Change in sight
Since KXAN’s investigation aired, Musselman said the county hired four additional investigators to help judges with these investigations.
“We have begun the process of the change that we so desperately sought,” Musselman said. “Have experienced investigators be able to assess scenes, assess situations, determine if autopsies are ultimately needed or not.”
Along with more investigators, Musselman said the Commissioners Court approved the authorization and funding to have a Medical Examiner in the next two to three years.
“Having a medical examiner of our own here in Williamson County to work with these services, work with Dr. Chundru,” Musselman said. “Conduct those autopsies in a timely manner and make those returns quickly for families who are interested in knowing what happened.”
