Forensic Pathology:
The types of deaths investigated by OSME Forensic Pathologists include all deaths of children under the age of two years, all deaths occurring while in law enforcement custody, and deaths due to violence (such as suspected homicides and suicides), drug toxicity, work place accidents, infectious disease, natural disease, aviation and maritime deaths, elder abuse, and mass disasters. Our Forensic Pathologists are also tasked with the identification of all unknown human remains, and the remains of individuals whose identifying features are distorted by trauma, fire, and/or decomposition.
Between 1400 and 1700 medicolegal postmortem examinations are performed each year in Mississippi by the state’s Forensic Pathologists. These physicians are board-certified in Forensic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. To maintain licensing and certification credentials, Forensic Pathologists are required to receive further education annually in current techniques, research, and opinions in Forensic Pathology and other relevant areas.
OSME Forensic Pathologists perform forensic postmortem examinations on their patients in order to determine cause of death and manner of death. They render written opinions and conclusions strictly in accordance with the facts of the case, and only to the extent offered by the evidence. Our physicians provide detailed reports of their postmortem examinations to all District Circuit Courts within the State, and travel throughout the state on a weekly basis to provide expert witness testimony in the majority of homicide trials.
Anthropology:
The State Medical Examiner’s Office employs a Ph.D. Forensic Anthropologist who performs detailed examinations of human remains and may deploy within the State of Mississippi to oversee exhumations and recoveries. Anthropological analyses include the development of biological profiles (e.g., age, sex, ancestry, stature, individualizing characteristics) in order to facilitate an identification of unidentified skeletal remains, and a focus on traumatic injuries to help determine cause and manner of death and distinguish pattern of injury whenever possible. The anthropology division works with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and multiple law enforcement agencies in an effort to obtain identifications for the unknown individuals whose remains are referred to the OSME.
Forensic Odontology:
The office’s board-certified Forensic Odontologist has participated in the forensic examination of over 150 decedents to date, providing scientific identification and chronological age assessment of unknown individuals. The Medical Examiner’s Office uses state-of-the-art, portable, digital dental radiographic equipment to assist in the scientific identification process. The portability of this system allows its deployment statewide in the event of a mass fatality incident. In addition to organizing the unknown skeletal remains archives of the office, he has been actively working with state law enforcement agencies to assist in the identification of “cold cases” from past years.
Forensic Laboratory Analyses:
The OSME is collocated with the main Mississippi Forensics Laboratory. Lab services available to the OSME and law enforcement agencies throughout the state include: comparisons and examinations of latent prints, firearms and tool marks and questioned documents, chemical analysis of substances, and serology examinations and DNA testing.
Outside laboratory services are utilized for histology, toxicology, and certain types of DNA testing.