By Virgin Islands Free Press Editorial Board
In the bureaucracy of the U.S. Virgin Islands, numbers often lose their meaning. But this week, Attorney General Gordon Rhea provided one that should stop every resident in their tracks: $112,000.00.
That is the amount the Department of Justice spent in 2025 alone to ferry the remains of 52 St. Croix residents across the water to St. Thomas for autopsies. While the government views this as a line item in a budget transfer, for the families involved, it is a “transfer tax” on grief—a final, undignified hurdle for those who have already lost everything.
For three years, a million-dollar modular morgue has sat at the St. Croix container port, wrapped in tarps that are now shredding in the wind. It is a monument to what Senator Kenneth Gittens rightly calls a “tortuous road” of administrative failure.
The Attorney General’s candid response to Senator Gittens this week revealed a “perfect storm” of excuses: contractor buyouts, diverted funds, and plumbing failures at Juan F. Luis Hospital. But while the government navigates “arduous” paperwork, the families of the 52 individuals transported last year had to navigate a different kind of pain. They waited while their loved ones were loaded onto planes, waited for a lone pathologist on another island to clear a schedule, and waited for the remains to be returned before they could even begin the process of saying goodbye.
The $112,000 spent on these flights isn’t just “lost” money; it is capital that could have been used to lure a second medical examiner to the territory—a position currently vacant because our $250,000 salary offer sits well below the national average. It is money that could have finished the Golden Grove site months ago.
AG Rhea has now put a stake in the ground: April 2026.
This date must be more than a projection; it must be a mandate. We can no longer accept “minor repairs” to deteriorating equipment as a solution for a crisis that began in 2022. The people of St. Croix are not asking for a state-of-the-art marvel; they are asking for the basic dignity of being able to care for their dead on their own soil.
The $112,000 spent last year is gone, but the trust of the community can still be salvaged. It starts with making sure that by May, no more St. Croix families have to look toward the horizon to find their closure.
COMMUNITY FACT SHEET: St. Croix Morgue & Forensic Services
Status Update: January 2026
THE CORE ISSUE
Since 2022, St. Croix has lacked a functional morgue and autopsy facility due to infrastructure failures at Juan F. Luis Hospital. This has forced the V.I. Department of Justice (DOJ) to transport deceased persons to St. Thomas for forensic examination.
THE COST OF THE DELAY (2025)
- 52 Families Impacted: The number of remains transported from St. Croix to St. Thomas last year.
- $112,000.00: The total taxpayer cost for inter-island transfers in 2025 alone.
- Human Toll: Significant delays in funeral arrangements and emotional distress for grieving families.
THE PLAN FOR RESOLUTION
Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has committed to the following timeline:
- The Site: A new modular morgue will be installed at Estate Golden Grove (the former Toro building site).
- The Facility: A 2,400 sq. ft. medical-grade modular unit including a viewing room, two autopsy bays, and a walk-in cooler.
- Target Opening: April 2026.
CURRENT STAFFING & BACKLOG
- Backlog Status: ZERO. Despite the lack of a local facility, all pending autopsy cases for St. Croix have been cleared.
- Medical Examiners: The Territory currently has one active pathologist (Dr. Landron).
- Recruitment: Hiring a second permanent medical examiner is a “top priority” to ensure St. Croix has dedicated on-island support.
WHY THE DELAY?
The Attorney General cited a “perfect storm” of administrative hurdles:
- Contractor Change: The original builder was acquired by another company, requiring a total contract renegotiation.
- Funding Gaps: Original funds were diverted or became unavailable, requiring a new search for capital (now secured).
- Site Prep: Previous hospital sites were ruled out due to plumbing; the Golden Grove site is now cleared for installation.
CONTACT FOR INFORMATION
If you are a family member seeking information on a pending case:
- V.I. Department of Justice (St. Croix): (340) 773-0295
- Senator Kenneth L. Gittens (Oversight): (340) 712-2210
90-Day Accountability Calendar
| Month | Milestone Goal | What to Watch For |
| Late Jan | Contract Signing | The AG stated a final approved contract should be ready by late January. Confirm if the deal with the new oversight firm is signed. |
| February | Site Preparation | Heavy machinery should be visible at the Estate Golden Grove site (the former Toro building lot) for foundation and utility work. |
| Early March | Unit Transport | The modular units currently at the Port Authority must be moved to the permanent site. This is a major logistical “moving day.” |
| Late March | Installation | The assembly of the 2,400 sq. ft. facility. Once units are “boxed,” utility hookups (plumbing/electricity) must be completed. |
| April 2026 | Operational Go-Live | Inspection of the walk-in coolers and autopsy bays. Recruitment update for the second medical examiner. |