Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Austin Mortuary Employee Faces Serious Charges After Allegations of Experimentation on Corpses
A North Austin mortuary employee has drawn the attention of law enforcement due to shocking allegations involving experimentation on corpses and the fraudulent acquisition of death certificates.
Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, aged 50, stands charged with one count of state-jail felony abuse of a corpse alongside five counts of second-degree felony tampering with governmental records, all allegedly committed with intent to defraud or harm.
According to court documents, the unsettling incidents reportedly began in August 2022. This timeline raises serious concerns about the ethical practices in place at the facility.
Allegations of Fraud and Misconduct
A former embalmer at Capital Mortuary Services has accused Bui of fraudulently initiating and obtaining at least ten death certificates using his name and license number without acquiring consent. This allegation, if proven, reflects a severe breach of trust and an abuse of authority within the mortuary establishment.
The former embalmer specifically noted that Bui had engaged in unorthodox experimentation on what he described as “separated anatomical structures.” He recounted an instance involving the arms of an unknown deceased individual. The experiment reportedly consisted of injecting formaldehyde into the arms and observing the changes over time in these severed limbs, raising ethical questions regarding consent and the treatment of human remains.
Response to Regulatory Concerns
The situation escalated when a cease-and-desist letter was issued to the mortuary on April 10. The correspondence revealed significant regulatory failures, indicating that the funeral home had failed to meet critical building, health, and safety codes, thereby mandating an immediate cessation of all operations.
According to court records, the Austin Police Department received eight death certificates purportedly signed by the former embalmer using an electronic signature. Interestingly, the former embalmer maintained that he never worked as a funeral director at Capital Mortuary Services. Instead, his roles included crematory operator, driver, and embalmer.
He emphasized that he did not access the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar, known as TxEVER, to obtain the disputed death certificates, further complicating the narrative surrounding these alleged activities.
Communication About the Allegations
In December 2023, Bui allegedly reached out to a former employee regarding a fraudulent certificate. Notably, she included screenshots in her communication. Within these messages, Bui reportedly suggested, “let’s us[e] this update to monitor our experiment,” alongside photos depicting what law enforcement suggested were severed arms in various stages of decomposition.
Investigators from the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TSFC) communicated with the Austin Police Department (APD) regarding the claims that Bui allowed the body parts, in their dissected state, to be cremated in the retort—a procedure that raises further ethical concerns about how human remains are treated.
Defense and Legal Perspectives
In a statement to FOX 7, Bui’s legal team emphasized the importance of a fair legal process. They stated, “Our criminal justice system is based on the presumption of innocence and a careful, critical evaluation of the evidence, facts, and their sources. This case involves complexities that are not immediately apparent and should not be sensationalized. Our legal team remains fully committed to defending and advocating for our client, Adeline Bui, with the expectation of fairness and due process.”
The Impact on Capital Mortuary Services
As the case unfolds, the repercussions of these allegations have resulted in the closure of Capital Mortuary Services. This development raises numerous questions about the future of the business and the welfare of families who had trusted the establishment with their loved ones.
Given the gravity of the allegations, there is a strong public interest in understanding the regulatory framework governing mortuary practices and the necessary precautions to assure ethical treatment of deceased individuals.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
The legal proceedings against Bui underscore the critical need for accountability in the mortuary service industry. Families rely on these establishments during vulnerable times in their lives, and any breach of trust can lead to profound emotional and psychological repercussions.
As the investigation continues, the Austin community will be closely monitoring the developments surrounding this case. With the potential for legal implications extending beyond Bui, this situation serves as a vital reminder of the ethical responsibilities inherent in the field of mortuary science.
In addressing these allegations, we must consider the broader questions about oversight and regulation in the mortuary and funeral service sectors, ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future.
