HOUSTON – Journey to the Hill Country and you'll find mile upon mile of ranches. Texas, right? But at the Freeman Ranch, in San Marcos, it's not cattle being herded. Rather, you'll find fields of donated corpses.
Texas State University oversees this unique outdoor classroom where students and crime scene investigators learn what happens to a person once the Texas sun and soil take over. While the research at Freeman Ranch is not for the faint of heart, it's inspiring more and more people every year to volunteer to go there when they die.
"We get about 70 to 80 donations per year," Dr. Daniel Wescott, professor, Department of Anthropology, and director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, said.
The bodies are cataloged and placed in a field. Mother Nature takes over from there: students enrolled in the Forensic Anthropology program study the corpses as they decompose.
WARNING: Skeletal remains can be seen in many of the photographs
Skeletal remains at Freeman Center. Some remains are placed in enclosures, while others are not. Those remains that aren’t enclosed are examined to see whether wildlife came into contact with them. Vultures, for instance, have the ability to reduce a recently expired corpse to its skeleton within five to six hours, according to Dr. Daniel Wescott, director, Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State University.An indoor lab at Freeman Center houses a program called, “Operation Identification,” which works to identify remains of migrants who die along the U.S./Mexico border. The program keeps track of the items which belonged to the migrant who died: shoes, coins, clothing, jewelry. Those items are them catalogued, with photographs posted online in hopes that they’ll help a relative identify their missing loved one. The remains of migrants who have not been identified are separated by case number and kept in a boxes in a storage room.An indoor lab at Freeman Center houses a program called, “Operation Identification,” which works to identify remains of migrants who die along the U.S./Mexico border. The program keeps track of the items which belonged to the migrant who died: shoes, coins, clothing, jewelry. Those items are them catalogued, with photographs posted online in hopes that they’ll help a relative identify their missing loved one. The remains of migrants who have not been identified are separated by case number and kept in a boxes in a storage room.An indoor lab at Freeman Center houses a program called, “Operation Identification,” which works to identify remains of migrants who die along the U.S./Mexico border. The program keeps track of the items which belonged to the migrant who died: shoes, coins, clothing, jewelry. Those items are them catalogued, with photographs posted online in hopes that they’ll help a relative identify their missing loved one. The remains of migrants who have not been identified are separated by case number and kept in a boxes in a storage room.An indoor lab at Freeman Center houses a program called, “Operation Identification,” which works to identify remains of migrants who die along the U.S./Mexico border. The program keeps track of the items which belonged to the migrant who died: shoes, coins, clothing, jewelry. Those items are them catalogued, with photographs posted online in hopes that they’ll help a relative identify their missing loved one. The remains of migrants who have not been identified are separated by case number and kept in a boxes in a storage room.Mary Swearinger, graduate student, operates a microscope that reveals bands of discoloration on a tooth. Depending on the outer band, whether it’s dark or light in color, students can determine the season during which a person died. A dark band around the outermost layer of a tooth suggests a person died in fall or winter. A light band suggests a person died during spring or summer months. Part of students’ research examines what causes the layers of discoloration.Mary Swearinger, graduate student, operates a microscope that reveals bands of discoloration on a tooth. Depending on the outer band, whether it’s dark or light in color, students can determine the season during which a person died. A dark band around the outermost layer of a tooth suggests a person died in fall or winter. A light band suggests a person died during spring or summer months. Part of students’ research examines what causes the layers of discoloration.Once a corpse fully breaks down to its skeleton, the remains are brought to an indoor lab, where students clean, process, and store them, according to type. The bones are stored for future research, including the factors which could lead to an identification, and age at the time of death.Once a corpse fully breaks down to its skeleton, the remains are brought to an indoor lab, where students clean, process, and store them, according to type. The bones are stored for future research, including the factors which could lead to an identification, and age at the time of death.Once a corpse fully breaks down to its skeleton, the remains are brought to an indoor lab, where students clean, process, and store them, according to type. The bones are stored for future research, including the factors which could lead to an identification, and age at the time of death.Once a corpse fully breaks down to its skeleton, the remains are brought to an indoor lab, where students clean, process, and store them, according to type. The bones are stored for future research, including the factors which could lead to an identification, and age at the time of death.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Crime scene investigators from law enforcement agencies statewide take part in workshops run by the Forensic Anthropology Center. The training programs are taught by graduate students. The program teaches law enforcement officials the difference between human remains and those of other animals. It also trains investigators to identify the types of bones in the human body. Participants said the training helps prepare officers for when they respond to a call involving the discovery of human remains.Dr. Daniel Wescott is director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Dr. Wescott also oversees the body farm at Freeman Center. The Body Farm at Texas State University began in 2008. Within its first year, three bodies were donated. The number jumped to 10 the next year. For the past five years, the program has averaged roughly 70 to 80 donations annually.Dr. Daniel Wescott is director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Dr. Wescott also oversees the body farm at Freeman Center. The Body Farm at Texas State University began in 2008. Within its first year, three bodies were donated. The number jumped to 10 the next year. For the past five years, the program has averaged roughly 70 to 80 donations annually.No description foundNo description foundLaney Feeser, graduate student, works to repair a cage that was damaged by critters. Students enrolled in Texas State University’s Forensic Anthropology program maintain the body farm, including repairs to cages, collecting and cataloguing corpses upon their arrival, and positioning corpses in the field.Dr. Daniel Wescott is director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Dr. Wescott also oversees the body farm at Freeman Center. The Body Farm at Texas State University began in 2008. Within its first year, three bodies were donated. The number jumped to 10 the next year. For the past five years, the program has averaged roughly 70 to 80 donations annually.Skeletal remains at Freeman Center. Some remains are placed in enclosures, while others are not. Those remains that aren’t enclosed are examined to see whether wildlife came into contact with them. Vultures, for instance, have the ability to reduce a recently expired corpse to its skeleton within five to six hours, according to Dr. Daniel Wescott, director, Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State University.
Skeletal remains at Freeman Center. Some remains are placed in enclosures, while others are not. Those remains that aren’t enclosed are examined to see whether wildlife came into contact with them. Vultures, for instance, have the ability to reduce a recently expired corpse to its skeleton within five to six hours, according to Dr. Daniel Wescott, director, Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State University.
"We're looking at what kind of factors influence the rate and pattern of decomposition. [We're looking at] how the insects and the microbes interact, so we're kind of looking at decomposition ecology: looking at it as a kind of ecosystem," Wescott said.
The idea is to use information gathered, applying that research to medical legal cases to estimate how long a person has been dead.
