Francita Young, a grieving mother and Harris County constituent, told the Harris County Commissioners Court on March 5 that she wants clearer communication from the county's Institute of Forensic Sciences about case updates and toxicology turnaround times after her son's body was recovered from Sims Bayou.

Young spoke during the public-comment portion of a special meeting called at 10:03 a.m. "My question is the condition and who maintains the Bayou," Young said about agenda item 75, a proposed donation of trees for Sims Bayou. She described the bayou as "unkept with debris, with overflowing landscaping, grass, branches, trash, and all types of things." She also raised agenda item 72, asking who regulates the medical examiner and whether families receive timely case updates: "Are there requirements as far as when you do the labs and perform them, do you have a turnaround time for the expectation for these results to be back?"

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo offered condolences and said the county oversees the Institute of Forensic Sciences and would follow up. "What we can do is visit with you, and figure out what's going on with your son's case. And then also circle back with our Institute of Forensic Sciences and see about those updates," Hidalgo said. Hidalgo also offered to connect Young with the county's flood control team to address the bayou conditions.

No formal action on agenda items 72 or 75 was taken during the special meeting. Young asked questions about internal procedures for notifying families and the timing of toxicology and lab results; those specifics were not provided during the meeting and were described by Young as unresolved. Court members said staff would follow up with Institute of Forensic Sciences and flood control staff to address her concerns.

The court did not debate or decide any policy changes to the Institute of Forensic Sciences' procedures during the meeting. Young's remarks are recorded in the court minutes as public comment on agenda items 72 and 75; court members acknowledged the concerns and pledged staff follow-up but did not set a timetable in the meeting record.