Medical Examiner Accused Of Mutilating Dead Children's Bodies, Harvesting Organs

Lubbock Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Sam Andrews, who was accused of medical malpractice, along with his predecessor, Sridhar Natarajan, responded Monday, denying the allegations brought against him.

On Feb. 8, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Lubbock district attorney’s office had asked the Texas rangers to launch an investigation into the county’s medical examiner’s office over certain allegations made by an employee in August. The details of the allegations were not made public at the time.

In a memo dated Jan. 30, obtained by local news outlet EverythingLubbock.com, Andrews wrote to a county judge denying the accusations against him and blaming County Commissioner Jason Corley for interfering with his office.

“For several weeks, I have been subject to ongoing and worsening harassment and abuse by new County Commissioner Mr. Jason Corley (Precinct #2). He has also spread patently false and disgusting rumors such as I have been cutting off the fingers of dead children, performing illegal research, or selling body parts,” Andrews wrote. “Corley’s actions have resulted in the creation of a hostile workplace, one in which no physician would or could feel safe to practice medicine.”

In response to the memo, Corley said his office had raised questions about “the improper harvesting of body tissue” by the medical examiner and had no clue about anyone being accused of cutting off children’s fingers. He added that Andrews had violated the medical practice standards defined by the National Association of Medical Examiners.

To cite an example, Corley referenced a case involving the death of an infant who was diagnosed with meningitis.

“There was no forensic justification for an autopsy on this child. There was no question as to the cause of death, which became increasingly clear upon opening her skull, but Dr. [Evan] Matshes stated, ‘We need more naturals like this for research.’ Drs. Andrews and Matshes harvested the baby’s brain, eyes, spinal cord, posterior neck, heart, and lungs. There was no consent from the next-of-kin to harvest this tissue from this infant. This baby, who died of natural causes, was mutilated. How do you think her family would feel about that fact?” he said.

Earlier this month, Lubbock County District Attorney wrote a letter to the county’s defense attorneys questioning the credibility of Andrews who was hired to present evidence in a criminal case.

“You are receiving this disclosure because you are currently assigned to or hired as defense counsel, or have been counsel, on a criminal case in Lubbock County where DR. SAM ANDREWS is a witness for the State of Texas. In observance of our obligations as prosecutors under the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 39.14 and current caselaw, we are notifying you of this because it is our belief that it might be used as material for possible impeachment and/or character evidence at trial,” Chief Prosecuting Attorney Barron L. Slack wrote.