Among the Mexican Americans of Los Angeles, Vidal Herrera is known simply as El Muerto. But even Angelenos who don’t know his grisly reputation may be familiar with Herrera-he tools around in a van emblazoned with his memorable instate toll-free number: 1-800-AUTOPSY. Does the world really need a coroner who makes house calls? Herrera says it’s a growing business: He hopes to open 20 franchises of his Autopsy/Post Services nationwide. His own staff performs about 600 autopsies a year-including about 100 for private citizens, at an average cost $2,000 for five-day turnaround. Now A/PS is branching into specialties such as "posttraumatic and decomposition cleanup." that’s mopping up mass-murder scenes, to a layman. "It’s recession-proof," he says cheerfully.