Odessa forensics center closes, leaving Howard County in lurch

April 22, 2011

The last-minute closing of the Permian Basin Forensic Center — which had been providing autopsies for Howard County since Texas Tech University shut down its forensic services department — has local officials scrambling to procure necessary services.

According to Justice of the Peace Kathryn Wiseman, her office was notified Tuesday the Odessa-based center would be closing its doors the following day for a number of different reasons.

Wiseman said closure of the Permian Basin Forensic Center will have a negative effect on the Howard County budget, with costs for autopsies expected to climb.

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