My name is Shelby Garza and I completed my internship at the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. While I participated in many different tasks during my internship there were two that I worked on more frequently than others. The first was Operation Identification and the second was practicing the Megyesi method of Total Body Scoring using the willed body donation program through Texas State.
Operation Identification
The majority of migrant deaths in Texas occur in the Rio Grande Valley, more specifically Brooks County.
With the high volume of deaths and limited funding, the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and the local JP became overwhelmed.
The undocumented migrants were buried, most without proper DNA sampling.
In 2011, Dr. Kate Spradley began a project to help identify the remains of the migrants. This project is known as Operation Identification (OpID). I did the intake and handled cleaning personal belongings.
Total Body Scoring
F.A.C.T.S. is currently participating in a project for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) which tests how the Megyesi et al. Total Body Score for decomposition method works to estimate PMI in the central Texas environment.
Sam Houston State University and University of Tennessee at Knoxville are doing the same. The scores for each environment will then be compared.
Disarticulation
Another aspect of my internship was completing disarticulations for the remains that had completed decomposition.
Screens are also used if there are small elements that have not been recovered towards the end of the disarticulation.
Two-Day Body Recovery Course
I was able to participate in a body recovery course during my internship which focused on mapping techniques and proper excavation skills.
