Puerto Rico probes forensic institute as bodies pile up

SAN JUAN ( Puerto Rico): Legislators in Puerto Rico are investigating the US territory’s forensics institute following complaints of under-staffing, bad odours and backlogs in the handling of bodies as the island struggles to recover from Hurricane Maria amid an economic crisis.

A group of representatives made a surprise visit to the Institute of Forensic Science on Friday, where they were denied access to five large trailers stationed outside that contain 76 bodies.

An additional 259 bodies are being kept inside the morgue, some from as far back as 2012. Overall, 56 bodies have been identified by relatives but remain unclaimed.

Puerto Rico Rep Juan Morales, president of the House’s health commission said that he is verifying the institute’s claim that none of the bodies were victims of Hurricane Maria last September.

He said that is one reason he requested a copy of the inventory of corpses, adding that it lacks key details, including where exactly the bodies are being held.

“If that’s the inventory, there’s something wrong,” he said.

Morales said legislators are considering going to court to demand that all five containers be opened.

He said one employee physically barred a representative from entering one area during the visit.

Forensic officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Puerto Rico Rep Jose Perez, who also was present during Friday’s visit, said that long-standing problems at the forensics institute have worsened with the island’s 11-yearold recession and the passage of Hurricane Maria.

Among the problems is a lack of forensic pathologist, with the institute having five, when the ideal number is 15, he said.

Perez criticised forensic officials who declined to open the trailers; “They’re hiding information. Obviously that causes suspicion.”

Legislators met with forensic officials behind closed doors before leaving the institution.

Morales said four of the five containers holding the 76 bodies do not have any generators as backup if the power goes out. He said forensic officials told him no one is regulating the temperature. — AP