New facility restores local forensic examination capabilities and supports preparations for hospital reconstruction
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. joined Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea and other government officials Monday for the official opening of the new modular morgue on St. Croix, marking a significant step toward restoring essential medical examiner services on the island and clearing the way for the rebuilding of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center.
Located in the Orange Grove area, the 2,400-square-foot facility will provide the Virgin Islands Department of Justice’s Office of the Medical Examiner with dedicated space to conduct autopsies and forensic examinations on St. Croix, ending a longstanding gap in local services that has required the transportation of deceased persons to St. Thomas.
The opening addresses a critical need that has persisted for more than four years and advances efforts to relocate essential operations ahead of the planned demolition of the existing hospital.
“This is an important milestone for St. Croix, and it is significant for more than one reason,” Governor Bryan said. “For years, families have had to deal with the added burden of having their loved ones transported to St. Thomas for autopsies because we did not have an adequate facility here. We are finally addressing that need. At the same time, this is another step toward making way for the demolition of the old Juan F. Luis Hospital and construction of the new one. There are a lot of moving parts in a project of that magnitude, and we have to make sure the necessary services and facilities are in place before that work can move forward.”
Attorney General Rhea highlighted the facility’s importance in strengthening forensic services while ensuring that families are treated with dignity and compassion.
“The opening of this facility marks an important milestone for St. Croix and the Virgin Islands Department of Justice. It addresses a longstanding need by ensuring families have access to essential morgue services with dignity, compassion and respect, while strengthening medical examiner operations and supporting preparations for the reconstruction of Juan F. Luis Hospital. I am proud to see this commitment become a reality for the people of St. Croix,” Attorney General Rhea said.
The modular facility includes an autopsy suite with two examination bays, refrigerated storage, a dedicated viewing room, offices for medical examiners and death investigators, and additional support areas.
By providing these services locally, the facility is expected to reduce transportation costs, improve the efficiency of death investigations and minimize delays for grieving families.
“When somebody loses a loved one, that family is already dealing with enough,” Governor Bryan said. “They should not have to face additional complications because we don’t have the proper facilities here on St. Croix. This project has taken longer than any of us wanted, but what matters now is that we have reached this point and are putting the services in place that our people deserve.”
The opening also supports the Bryan-Roach Administration’s ongoing redevelopment of Juan F. Luis Hospital, one of the Territory’s largest healthcare infrastructure projects.
In March, the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery announced the execution of a contract with Suffolk Construction for the hospital’s demolition and reconstruction. Preconstruction activities are underway, including the relocation of supporting facilities and services necessary to maintain healthcare operations throughout the redevelopment.
The modular morgue, completed through the efforts of the Department of Justice, government partners and project contractor Benton Consigli, is among the critical improvements supporting that transition.
Governor Bryan thanked Attorney General Rhea, the Department of Justice team, project contractors and the agencies involved in bringing the facility to completion.
“We still have a great deal of work ahead of us, especially when it comes to rebuilding Juan F. Luis Hospital,” the Governor said. “But progress comes from getting these individual projects done and making sure we are ready for the next phase. That is what we are doing here, and that is what we are going to continue doing.”
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