Skip to main content

Slideshow: Scenes From Texas State's Body Farm

Freeman Ranch in San Marcos is home to about 50 human corpses donated to the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, which uses them to conduct research that can help doctors identify bodies and law enforcement solve crimes. Warning: some pictures are graphic and show decomposing corpses.

Republish
Daniel Westcott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, shows donated skeletons as they are stored for future research.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Senior Eastman Barnard processes a cranium after the body has decomposed at the Texas State facility on Freeman Ranch.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Senior Eastman Barnard processes a cranium after the body has decomposed at the Texas State facility on Freeman Ranch.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Daniel Westcott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, talks about current research projects.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Daniel Westcott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, talks about current research projects.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Daniel Westcott shows the different vegetation growth around decaying bodies at the research facility.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Researchers study the decay of human corpses at the 26-acre outdoor human decomposition laboratory run by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Researchers study the decay of human corpses at the 26-acre outdoor human decomposition laboratory run by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Researchers study the decay of human corpses at the 26-acre outdoor human decomposition laboratory run by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University.
Credit: Callie Richmond
Researchers study the decay of human corpses at the 26-acre outdoor human decomposition laboratory run by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Disclosure: The Texas State University System is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune.
Credit: Callie Richmond

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?

Yes, I'll donate today

Information about the authors

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics