A final report on the November 8, 2022 murder-suicide at the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office a year-and-a-half-ago lays blame on a contract janitor.
The report, obtained by KRLD News, says Deputy Medical Examiner Doctor Beth Frost's last words were "Jed, how did you get in?" James Frost's last words, according to the report, were "Who is he? Who is he?"
Then five shots rang out. Beth Frost was murdered, her estranged husband killed himself.
The just released copy of the final report says James Frost was able to get into the secured building by posing as a food delivery driver. The report says Frost got a box of food from Jimmy John's, and went to a back door that could only be opened from the inside. One contract janitor ignored Frost by acting as though he didn't see him. But a security camera showsH a second janitor letting Frost in. Frost went to the second floor and walked his wife's office. There he pushed a sofa in front of the door, shot Beth four times then turned the gun on himself. James Frost died of a single gunshot to the head.
Investigators found the Jimmy John's food along with two handguns in the office.
The report says some building employees had been made aware the couple was going through a divorce. The public front door of the building, just off I-35E near Medical District, is manned by a person at a security desk in front. Frost's decision to use the back door on the hopes he could fool one person is a common tactic.
"This happens a lot at highly secured, both city government and federal facilities," said Jeff Hallstead, a former Fort Worth police chief who now works at a security consultant. "Someone looks like the need to get in there, they let them in there. And then, based upon the mentality and or vindictive nature of what they want to accomplish, they're going to be able to do it."
Although the report names the contract janitor, it does not say whether he has been disciplined or is still working in Dallas County buildings.
