Mississippi opens MDPS medical examiner office in Oxford

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety opened a new Medical Examiner’s Office in Oxford on Thursday, a move officials said marks an important milestone for North Mississippi and the state’s criminal justice system.

The office is expected to become fully operational later this year, according to a Facebook post announcing the opening. The post thanked the Medical Examiner’s Office in Pearl for years of service to the region and said the new facility is the culmination of years of planning, leadership and collaboration.

Officials said having medical examiner services closer to local communities will benefit victims’ families, coroners, law enforcement, prosecutors and the justice system by speeding access to forensic examinations and supporting more timely investigations. Medical examiner offices typically investigate deaths, perform autopsies and provide forensic findings that help criminal and civil proceedings.

The Facebook post singled out Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell for leadership and thanked the many individuals and partner agencies involved in the project. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.