Freeman Ranch, Body farm research facility in San Marcos, Texas, US.
Freeman Ranch is a forensic research facility in San Marcos, Texas, focused on the scientific study of how human remains decompose outdoors. The site contains outdoor areas where bodies are placed in different environmental conditions so that researchers can observe and document natural decay.
Freeman Ranch was established in 2008 as only the second facility of its kind in the United States. Over the years it grew into a training and research center that draws professionals from law enforcement and forensic science.
Freeman Ranch accepts body donations from people who want to contribute to forensic science after death. For many donors, this is a deliberate final act in support of criminal investigations and the training of future investigators.
The site is not open to the general public and is reserved for students, researchers, and professionals in forensics or law enforcement. Anyone with a professional or academic interest should contact the managing university directly before planning a visit.
Researchers at Freeman Ranch were the first to document scientifically that deer feed on human remains. This finding shifted how scientists think about which animals may interact with human remains in the wild.
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