Texas is so large that it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are a lot of miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Down along that stretch is Nueces County and the city of Corpus Christi, a popular beach destination for Texans.
This scenic area of Texas offers a lot of outdoor activities, especially for anyone that enjoys being out on the water. But it isn’t all fun in the sun all the time. Just like any other area, people pass away in Nueces County every day. Most of the time it’s a known death, meaning the manner and cause of death are clear. However, there are a number of cases where the specifics aren’t certain and further investigation is needed.
That’s when the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office is called in to help. It may not be the biggest county medical examiner’s office in Texas, but it is fully equipped to help its local community as well as the areas around Nueces County.
A Small But Essential Medical Examiner’s Office
Corpus Christi is miles away from the major metros of Texas, but it still gets a lot of visitors, many of which are from somewhere else in the state. Way down on the coast, communities have had to create local governments that are fully equipped to provide the same services that are needed in the big cities, just on a smaller scale. The medical examiner’s office is a prime example.
The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office is a department of the local government that works in tandem with enforcement, medical facilities and families. They are there to serve the public performing a vital role that aids in criminal and civil cases while also giving families closure after the death of a loved one.
Their work takes time, and it isn’t a large medical examiner’s office like Harris or Travis County. It often takes 30-90 days for investigations to deliver up definitive results that can be reported.
The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office does a very good job of keeping the lines of communication open with the community. They are among the few facilities of their kind where you can find the contact information for specific individuals even. It speaks to how this is a smaller community where people are in regular contact rather than a sprawling metropolis.
The office also provides documentation online that can be viewed by anyone. There are annual reports for recent years along with a current fee schedule. And if an autopsy report needs to be requested, they make that easy to do with a form that can be found on their website.
In addition to serving Nueces County, the medical examiner’s office also aids law enforcement departments in nearby cities like Rockport and Kingsville that don’t have their own resources for conducting a forensic autopsy.
Services Provided by the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office
The primary function of the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office is, “to conduct medico-legal death investigations for cases that fall under Medical Examiner jurisdiction, which include unnatural and unattended natural deaths.”
Carrying out that mission requires different procedures and coordinating with various county departments and individuals. To get it all done the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office provides:
- Forensic Autopsies
Whenever it’s deemed necessary, the medical examiner will perform a forensic autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. This will occur after the medical examiner has done a physical evaluation of the body and reviewed medical records. - Toxicology Testing
The medical examiner may also determine that a toxicology test is needed to verify the cause of death. This is the case if it’s believed that poisoning, a medication or illicit drugs contributed to the death. - Scene Investigation
The medical examiner will review details from the scene of the death. Depending on the circumstances this can be done in-person or by reviewing photos and police reports. - Medical Record Reviews
Medical records are also reviewed. In addition to the records directly connected to the death, the medical examiner may need to also review past medical records to determine the cause of death. - Expert Witness in Court Cases
In some instances, the medical examiner will serve as an expert witness in court cases. They provide their professional opinions and can explain pieces of evidence in a way that jury members can understand. - Morgue Services
While a body is in the care of the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office the body will be kept in refrigerated storage for preservation.
Working With the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office While Planning Funeral Services
If the body of a deceased family member is in the care of the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office you’ll need to consult with your funeral home. Even though they try to handle services in a timely manner, the medical examiner’s work will delay the funeral services to some degree and add a few more tasks to the list of things that must get done.
The most important factor when working with a medical examiner’s office is arranging transport of the body once their work is done. This is required if anyone other than the next of kin is retrieving the body. We have provided a copy of the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office release form on our website. You can download it and fill out the form online so it’s easy to get submitted. There are also tips on how to complete the release form and get it approved.
Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office Location Information
In a fairly small brick building that sits within view of the CRISTUS Spohn Hospital, the medical examiner does their work. The location makes it easy to coordinate with the hospital whenever a person dies at the medical facility. The central location also makes it easy for local family members that want to discuss procedures and services in-person with the office.
Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office is located at:
2610 Hospital Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78405
Business Hours
Monday – Friday: 8am-5pm
Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office can be called at:
Main Office – 361-884-4994
Were services from the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office needed? Cremation.Green can help you get everything figured out and start the funeral arrangements so there is as little delay as possible handling the disposition. We’ll work directly with you and the medical examiner’s office to arrange transport so that you can remain focused on family matters.
We’re available 24 hours a day by phone, text or email. Contact us at your convenience.
