Galveston County, TX
Home MenuAbout County Medical Examiner
Erin Barnhart, M.D.
Chief Medical Examiner
Present Position
10/2015 – present
Chief Medical Examiner
Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office
6607 Hwy 1764
Texas City, TX 77591
University of Texas Medical Branch
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology
301 University Blvd
Galveston, TX 77555
Education
University of Texas Health Science Center
Houston, Texas
Doctor of Medicine
8/2001 - 5/2005
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Bachelor of Science
8/1995 - 5/1999
Training (GME):
Surgical Pathology Fellowship
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
7/2010 – 6/2011
Forensic Pathology Fellowship
Miami-Dade County
Miami, Florida
7/2009 – 6/2010
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas
7/2005 - 6/2009
Board Certification
Diplomate, American Board of Pathology
Forensic Pathology
9/16/2010 – current
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
7/24//2009 - current
Licensure
State of Texas
Q5757
Expiration 8/31/2021
State of Mississippi
No. 21643
Expiration 6/30/2021
Past Work Experience
7/2011 – 9/2015
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner
State of Mississippi
State Medical Examiner’s Office
1700 East Woodrow Wilson Ave
Jackson, MS 39216
Affiliate Faculty, Forensic Pathology Resident Rotation Coordinator
Department of Pathology
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
Research Activities
Area of Research
Elucidation of neurobiology of fatal opioid overdoses
Current grant support
03/08/20 - 02/28/2023 3U24 MH100930-08S1 (Gelman, PI)
Title: Texas NeuroAIDS Research Center
Organizations: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Role: Co-Investigator, 10% effort
Direct costs: $255,000.00 over 3 years
Committee Responsibilities and Memberships
National:
American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, faculty mentor, social media/communications task force
College of American Pathologists, Residents’ Forum, UTMB delegate, 2006 - 2008
State:
Galveston County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Emergency Response & Hazardous Materials Facilities/Transportation Committee, 2016 – present
Mississippi Child Death Review Panel, State Team Member, 2011 - 2015
Texas Medical Association, Resident and Fellow Section Executive Council, Member at Large, 2008 - 2010
Texas Medical Association, Committee on Infectious Disease, 2007 - 2009
Texas Medical Association, Resident and Fellow Section Executive Council, Secretary, 2007 - 2008
Texas Medicine, Editorial Board, 2007 - 2008
Texas Medical Association, Council on Socioeconomics, 2006 - 2008
UTMB:
University of Texas Medical Branch, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Pathologists’ Assistant Advisory Committee, 2020
University of Texas Medical Branch, Institutional Safety and Security Active Shooter Subcommittee, 2017 - current
University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Member at Large, 2008 - 2009
University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, Resident Recruitment and Rank committee, 2006, 2007, 2009
Scientific Societies and Professional Organizations
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
National Association of Medical Examiners
Awards and Honors
Chief Resident, University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 2008 - 2009
Photographer of the Year, University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 2009
Resident Researcher of the Year, University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 2007
George Dock Research Scholarship, March, 2006
Presentations and Publications
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals:
“Comparative Flow Immunophenotypic Features of the Inflammatory Infiltrates of Hodgkin Lymphoma and Lymphoid Hyperplasia,” S. David Hudnall, Eve Betancourt, Erin Barnhart, and Jyoti Patel. Clinical Cytometry 74B: 1-8 (2008).
Poster Presentations and Abstracts:
“It’s Not Just Assault Rifles: A Case Study of a Mass Shooting Involving a Shotgun.” Brooke Blake, MD and Erin Barnhart, MD, podium presentation, American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting, 2018.
“Man Versus Machine: An 8 Year Review of Manual CPR, Automatic Compression Devices, Bystander CPR, and Patient Factors.” Brooke Blake, M.D.; Yu Yang, M.B.B.S.; and Erin Barnhart, M.D., poster presentation, Texas Society of Pathologists and American Association of Forensic Sciences, annual meetings, 2017.
“Fatal Pulmonary Fat Emboli Following First Trimester Elective Abortion; is this amniotic fluid embolism?” Erin Barnhart, MD, Briza Walter, MD and Kenneth D. Hutchins, MD, poster presentation, American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting, 2011.
“Inflammatory Cytokine Genes in Hodgkin Lymphoma,” S.D. Hudnall, T. Chen, E. Barnhart, R. Konig, podium presentation, United States and Canadian Association of Pathologists annual meeting, 2009.
“Galactosemia and Falsely Elevated Glucose Values by Point of Care Testing,” Erin Barnhart, MD, Anthony Okorodudu, PhD, Diana Dehoyos, MS, MT, John Petersen, PhD, poster presentation, College of American Pathology annual meeting, 2007.
“Intravascular Lymphoma Presenting as Rapidly Progressive Dementia,” Erin Barnhart, MD and P.L. DiPatre, MD, PhD, poster presentation, College of American Pathology annual meeting, 2007.
“Correlation between Numbers of Regulatory T Cells and Cytotoxic T Cells in Hodgkin Lymphoma,” Erin Barnhart, MD and S.D. Hudnall, MD, poster presentation, United States and Canadian Association of Pathologists annual meeting, 2007 and Texas Society of Pathologists state meeting, 2007.
“Hydrocephalus: A fatal complication of neurosarcoidosis,” Erin Barnhart, MD and Gerald Campbell, MD, PhD, poster presentation, College of American Pathologists annual meeting, 2006.
Invited Lectures:
University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology Grand Rounds, Invited Speaker, “The Limitations of Forensic Science and the Potential for Injustice,” November 9, 2020.
John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine, Osler Club, Invited Speaker, “Expertise on Trial: The limitations of forensic science and the potential for injustice,” September 15, 2020.
University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology Grand Rounds, Invited Speaker, “When Is A Heart Attack A Homicide?” September 19, 2019.
Galveston College, Invited Speaker, “Topics in Forensic Science,” July 2, 2019.
Diagnostic Management Team Conference, Invited lecturer, The Forensic Diagnostic Management Team, March 5, 2019.
Dickenson Rotary Club, “The Medical Examiner System,” July 18, 2018
Kappa Chi Delta, UTMB Medical Sorority, Invited Panelist, October 9, 2018
Houston Society of Clinical Pathology, Invited Co-Speaker, “The Worst Misdiagnosis of All: The Incorrect Diagnosis of Child Abuse,” May 23, 2018
Diagnostic Management Team Conference, Invited Panelist, The Forensic Diagnostic Management Team, February 7, 2018.
Introduction to Criminal Justice, College of the Mainland, Invited Lecturer, “Forensic Pathology: Fatal Injuries,” October 24, 2017.
Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office, “Topics in Forensic Pathology for Prosecutors,” Invited Speaker, October 20, 2017.
Kappa Chi Delta, UTMB Medical Sorority, Invited Panelist, October 3, 2017
Introduction to Criminal Justice, College of the Mainland, Invited Speaker, October 24, 2017.
University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Preventative Medicine and Community Health, Invited Speaker, “Fatal Injuries,” February 7, 2017.
University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Pathology, “Topics in Infant and Child Death,” March 31, 2016.
Kappa Chi Delta, UTMB Medical Sorority, Invited Panelist, September 13, 2016
Missing in Harris County Day, Invited Speaker, May 14, 2016.
Kappa Chi Delta, UTMB Medical Sorority, Invited Speaker, November 23, 2015.
Prentiss Lions Club, Invited Speaker, Medicolegal Death Investigation in Mississippi, May 9, 2013, Prentiss, Mississippi.
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Pathology Grand Rounds, Invited Speaker, “When is a heart attack a homicide?” April 22, 2013, Jackson, Mississippi.
6th Annual Coroner Forensic Collaborative of Louisiana, Invited Speaker, March 2013, Lafayette, Louisiana.
University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Pathology Grand Rounds, Invited Speaker, “Urothelial Neoplasia,” February, 2011, Galveston, Texas.
Houston Society of Clinical Pathology, Invited Speaker, “Regulatory and Cytotoxic T-Cell Subsets in Hodgkin Lymphoma,” March, 2007.
Texas State Society of American Medical Technologists, Invited Speaker, “Renal Function and Practical Applications of the GFR Formula,” October, 2005.
Televised appearances, Interviews, and Consultations
NBC Think, “The Last Doctors of the Santa Fe School Shooting,” November 8, 2018.
USA Today, “Smashed supplies, crumpled bodies: Medical Examiner describes ‘shocking’ scene at Texas school shooting,” May 25, 2018
National Public Radio interview, “Santa Fe, Texas Shooting Takes Toll on Area’s Chief Medical Examiner,” May 24, 2018
The Eleven, S01E04, November 2, 2017
TMC Pulse Magazine, “A Rather Peaceful Place.” Vol 4/No 9, Oct 2017. http://www.tmc.edu/news/2017/10/rather-peaceful-place/
New York Times, September 2, 2017, “Human Toll of Harvey Comes into View as Waters Recede.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/02/us/harvey-victims-death-toll.html
New York Times, August 29, 2017, “Stalled Over Gulf, Harvey Deepens Texans’ Soggy Misery.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/us/harvey-texas-louisiana.html
KHOU Houston, February 17, 2016, interviewed by reporter Larry Seward regarding exhumation of unidentified Galveston County decedent
WBTV Jackson, August 20, 2014, interviewed by reporter Jessica Bowman regarding sudden infant death and safe infant sleep environments
http://www.ktre.com/story/26331095/unsafe-sleeping-environments-for-infants
Consultant, literary fiction, “Murder Under Boley Creek Bridge,” Jim Luke, 2013.
Consultant, literary fiction, “Skeleton’s Key,” Stacy Green, 2012.
Court Testimony
MS District 15 Circuit Court, Marion County, MSME11-0643, February 5, 2012
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-1262, February 14, 2012
MS District 20 Circuit Court, Rankin County, MSME12-0123, February 26, 2012
MS District 8 Circuit Court, Newton County, MSME11-1059, December 4, 2012
MS District 12 Circuit Court, Perry County, MSME11-1388, February 11 and 12, 2013
MS District 9 Circuit Court, Warren County, MSME11-0649, June 25, 2013
MS District 13 Circuit Court, Covington County, MSME12-1003, July 22, 2013
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-0831, August 7, 2013
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Coahoma County, MSME12-0915, August 7, 2013
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-0090 and MSME11-0091 (1st defendant), August 14, 2013
Sworn deposition, Jackson, MS, civil litigation, MSME12-1302, August 23, 2013
MS District 1 Circuit Court, Tishomingo County, August 28, 2013
MS District 9 Circuit Court, Warren County, MSME11-1324, September 11, 2013
Sworn deposition, Jackson, MS, civil litigation, MSME11-1373, September 12, 2013
MS District 5 Circuit Court, Attala County, MSME12-0959, September 16, 2013
MS District 3 Circuit Court, Lafayette County, MSME12-1409 et. al., September 25, 2013
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-0090 and MSME11-0091 (2nd defendant), September 26, 2013
MS District 1 Circuit Court, Lee County, November 5, 2013
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-0389, November 12, 2013
MS District 15 Circuit Court, Pearl River County, MSME11-1198, April 15, 2014
MS District 10 Circuit Court, Wayne County, MSME12-1353, May 6, 2014
MS District 22 Circuit Court, Claiborne County, MSME11-0904, May 6, 2014
MS District 10 Circuit Court, Wayne County, MSME13-0074 and ME13-0075, May 12, 2014
US District Court, Northern District of MS, MSME12-1302, July 25, 2014
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME12-0620 and MSME12-0638, September 10, 2014
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME12-0878, September 24, 2014
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Bolivar County, MSME12-0108, November 10, 2014
AL 1st Judicial Circuit Court, Choctaw County, MSME11-0998, November, 2014
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME12-1048, December 10, 2014
MS District 9 Circuit Court, Warren County, MSME11-0749, December 10, 2014
MS District 14 Circuit Court, Pike County, MSME13-0889, January 20, 2015
MS District 13 Circuit Court, Covington County, MSME14-0232, January 29, 2015
MS District 14 Circuit Court, Lincoln County, MSME13-1190, February 11, 2015
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Coahoma County, MSME13-0887, February 18, 2015
MS District 3 Circuit Court, Marshall County, MSME12-1004, March 3, 2015
MS District 12 Circuit Court, Forrest County, MSME13-0810, March 4, 2015
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, MSME11-1188, March 18, 2015
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Bolivar County, MSME12-1185, April 8, 2015
MS District 17 Circuit Court, Yalobusha County, MSME12-1189, April 14, 2015
MS District 20 Circuit Court, Madison County, MSME14-0557, May 13, 2015
MS District 4 Circuit Court, Washington County, MSME14-0522
FL Circuit Court, Duval County, State of FL vs. Paul Edwards, Case number: 10006708CF10A, MDMEO2009-03124, July 24, 2015
MS District 3 Circuit Court, Marshall County, MSME12-1004, August 19, 2015
MS District 6 Circuit Court, Adams County, MSME14-0589, August 20, 2015
MS District 16 Circuit Court, Lowndes County, MSME14-0569, August 25, 2015
MS District 9 Circuit Court, Warren County, MSME14-0573, August 25, 2015
Sworn deposition Galveston, TX, civil litigation, MSME13-1126, November 11, 2015
Harris County, 179th District Court, State of TX v. Mervin Richard Haye, Cause number: 141629101010-3, GCMEO03-2014-027, December 8, 2015
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Bolivar County, State of MS vs. Dontorius Ware, Cause number: 2012-085-CR2, MSME11-1397, May 5, 2016
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, State of MS vs. David Thomas, Cause number: 12-0-585, MSME12-0229, May 10, 2016
MS District 17 Circuit Court, Desoto County, State of MS vs. James Derrick Kirkwood/Roderick Gilliam, Cause number: CR2014-0180RCD, MSME13-0894, May 18, 2016
MS District 12 Circuit Court, Forrest County, MSME13-0810, October 12, 2016
MSMS District 12 Circuit Court, Forrest County, State of MS vs. Tamira Yvonne Peoples, Cause number: 13-515CR, MSME12-1202, January 17, 2017
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2016-242, March 1, 2017
Harris County, 208th District Court, State of TX v. Brian Campbell, Cause number: 147262 701010-3
Sworn deposition Galveston, TX, civil litigation, MSME14-1395, Julia Brisendine and Melanie McCrary v. Greenwood Leflore Hospital, May 24, 2017
Sworn deposition, Brazoria County, ME02-2016-122, June 8, 2017
Sworn deposition Houston, TX, civil litigation, MSME15-0944, Goode v. The City of Southaven et. al., September 20, 2017
MS District 2 Circuit Court, Panola County, State of MS vs. Quentin Tellis, Cause number: CR2016-05GCP2, October 12, 2017
Galveston County, 122nd District Court, State of TX v. James Ramone Daniels, November 9, 2017
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Bolivar County, State of MS v. Jamie Acuff (2014-100-CR2), December 5, 2017
MS District 7 Circuit Court, Hinds County, State of MS v. Javondus Beasely (14-0-004), December 13, 2017
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2017-240, March 21, 2018
MS District 20 Circuit Court, Rankin County, Jeff Cahn et. al. vs. Lloyd Gorden, Cause number: 2012-262
Brazoria County, Texas, Circuit Court, ME02-2017-242, April 11, 2018
Matagorda County, Texas, Circuit Court, competency hearing, ME02-2017-253, April 17, 2018
Galveston County, 56th Judicial District, State of TX vs. Kenneth Brown, Cause number: 16CR2921, May 1, 2018
Harris County, 270th Judicial District, sworn deposition, Ana and Juan Castillo vs. Waukesha-Pearce Industries Inc. and Michael Dean Haynes, Cause number: 2016-56622
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2017-271, May 15, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, State of TX vs. Brooke Logan Weekly, Cause number: 82892-CR, May 15, 2018
Galveston County, State of TX vs. Keith Andrews, Cause no: 17CR2393, September 12, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, 149th District Court, ME-02-2017-028, September 18, 2018
MS District 2 Circuit Court, Panola County, State of MS vs. Quentin Tellis (re-trial), September 26, 2018
Galveston County, 56th district court, State of TX v Jesse Dobbs, Cause no: 16CR3079, October 16, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, ME-02-2017-235, Cause number. 82741-CR, October 23, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2018-210, November 8, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2017-176, November 8, 2018
Brazoria County, Texas, ME-02-2017-176, November 8, 2018
Galveston County, 122nd district court, State of Texas vs James Daniels, Cause no: 16CR2237, February 13, 2019
Fort Bend County, 434th district court, State of Texas vs Desmond Glaze, Cause no: 16-DCR-072495, February 27, 2019
Galveston County, 122nd district court, ML-2011-594 and ML-2011-595 (N.M.) April 9, 2019
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2019-041, April 18, 2019
MS District 11 Circuit Court, Bolivar County, State of MS vs. Dontorius Ware (re-trial), MSME11-1397, May 7, 2019
Galveston County, 122nd district court, ME01-2016-628, May 15, 2019
Brazoria County, Texas, ME-02-2017-028, June 14, 2019
Brazoria County, Texas, Grand Jury, ME02-2019-100, June 20, 2019
Fort Bend County, Texas, ME03-2018-024, Cause No: 18-DCR-080889, August 7, 2019
Galveston County, Texas, 212th district court, Cause No. 18CR1026, State of TX vs Wilnequa Nunuz, August 20, 2019
Brazoria County, Texas, 239th district court, ME01-2017-495, Cause No. 83034-CR, September 5, 2019
Brazoria County, Texas, 412th district court, ME02-2017-176, Cause No. 85571-CR, September 24, 2019
Galveston County, ME01-16-728, October 16, 2019
Harris County, 208th district court, PA-2013-350, Cause No: 157776701010-3, November 13, 2019
Galveston County, 212th district court, ME01-2017-218, November 20, 2019
Galveston County, 405th district court, ME01-2016-692 and ME01-2016-693, Cause No. 16CR3130, January 9, 2020
Galveston County, ME01-17-304, Cause No. 17CR1874, State of Texas vs Santos Botello, January 27, 2020
Galveston County, 122nd district court, ME01-2016-073, Cause No. 16CR0401, February 18, 2020
Matagorda County, 130th district court, ME02-17-253, Cause No. 18-146, 18-147, 18-148, February 19, 2020
Galveston County, 10th district court, ME01-2015-560, Cause No. 16CR1372, February 20, 2020
Galveston County, 56th district court, State of TX v Byron Eugene Coleman, Cause no: 18CR1738, ME01-2018-019, October 12, 2020
Fort Bend County, State of Texas vs Randolph Juarez McClinton, Cause no: 18-DCR-082949A, ME03-2018-146, October 14, 2020
Galveston County, 56th district court, Cause no: 19CR0268, ME01-2018-678, December 8, 2020
Brazoria County, Texas, 300th district court, ME02-2019-100, Cause No. 87685-CR, January 27, 2021
Galveston County, 10th district court, ME01-2017-628, Cause No. 18CR2442, February 3, 2021
MS District 9 Circuit Court, Warren County, MSME17-1277 and 17-1278, March 16, 2021