Arrangements being made to now release visitor’s body back to family

Following concerns from the family of Dr Joseph Horgan, the 66-year-old visitor who was found dead in BVI waters two weeks ago, arrangements are now being made for the US citizen’s body to be released to the family.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) made the announcement in a release on social media on Wednesday.

The RVIPF said it is is now in a position to release the body since a key component of the probe has been completed.

“The completed autopsy and [coroner’s] report now places the investigation at a stage where Dr Horgan’s death is now officially registered with the territory’s Civil (birth and death) Registry,” the RVIPF said who suggested that their investigations continue.

“Arrangements are now being made in collaboration with BVI Tourist Board to aid the deceased [man’s] loved ones in having the body of Dr Horgan repatriated at the earliest possible time,” police further reported.

Up to a week ago, Dr Hogan’s was laying in the territory’s morgue facilities at Peebles Hospital as police awaited receipt of the deceased visitor’s medical records and other outstanding information from the man’s family abroad.

The US deceased citizen’s son, Jason Hogan, is reported as telling US news media, Local10, that the autopsy on his father is being stalled because of BVI policies and because of the Christmas holidays.

“As of right now, it stands that nothing will be done with him until January 3, when the medical examiner is back from vacation,” the grieving son reportedly said. “We can’t rest knowing that our father is in a cooler somewhere on an island. He’s not even with us.”