GEORGIA - On Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion of the GBI Headquarters morgue facility in Decatur.

The 17,511-square foot project for the Medical Examiner’s Office creates much needed storage capacity, essentially doubling the cooler space for autopsy cases and increasing office space for the doctors and death investigation specialists.  The Medical Examiner's Office provides complete forensic pathology services to 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties in deaths which qualify as coroner cases under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.  The current building had reached maximum capacity with the growth in population and demand for services. 

The $6,680,000 project was funded by the Georgia legislature and approved by Governor Nathan Deal.  The GBI’s Staff Services section partnered with Piedmont General Contractors during the 14-month project.

Today’s ceremony included comments from Governor Nathan Deal, GBI Director Vernon Keenan, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat.  Georgia Board of Public Safety Vice Chairman Ellis Wood, Senator John Albers, Representative Mandi Ballinger, Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, and Representative Alan Powell’s office were also in attendance.