Chief M.E. Dr. Sam Andrews Barred From Travis County Courtrooms

With the Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office (LCMEO) under investigation by the Texas Rangers, Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Sam Andrews, is also facing mounting scrutiny.

An article by the Austin American-Statesman says that district attorneys in Travis County have decided to bar Dr. Andrews from testifying in criminal cases until the investigation into the Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office has concluded.

But according to District Attorney First Assistant, Mindy Montford, there are currently 10 pending criminal cases in which Dr. Andrews has already performed autopsies. Prosecutors are now forced to appoint a second medical examiner to review Dr. Andrews’ findings and potentially testify in his stead.

Before taking the job as Lubbock County's Chief Medical Examiner on October 1, 2018, Dr. Andrews was the Deputy Medical Examiner in Travis County for three years, where there is no record of autopsy misconduct.

However, in addition to the Texas Rangers' investigation, a former employee of the M.E.'s office has filed a lawsuit against both Dr. Sam Andrews and Dr. Evan Matshes. The suit on behalf of 56-year-old Senee Graves alleges illegal activity associated with various autopsies at the M.E.'s office.

Specifically, the lawsuit mentions autopsies performed by unlicensed physicians and concerns about the shipping of body parts to N-A-A-G’s lab in California.