Government

Gittens Demands Answers on St. Croix Morgue Failures, Forensic Delays, and Years of Unresolved Deficiencies

ST. CROIX — Citing years of unresolved problems and the ongoing impact on grieving families, Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens has formally requested detailed answers from Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea regarding persistent deficiencies in morgue operations and forensic pathology services in the St. Croix District. In a letter transmitted Wednesday, Gittens called for a comprehensive accounting of the current status of the St. Croix morgue, including a clear and accountable timeline for its completion. He also requested specific information on the absence of a pathologist assigned to St. Croix cases, an issue that has long forced the transfer of bodies to St. Thomas for autopsies. The senator’s inquiry seeks data on the number of outstanding cases, how many bodies were transported to St. Thomas for post-mortem examinations, and the total cost incurred by the Department of Justice during calendar year 2025 for those transports. “This is not simply an administrative issue — it...