A Texas mortuary owner is facing serious charges after authorities accused her of conducting unauthorized experiments on corpses and altering death certificates.
Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui has been charged with abuse of a corpse and five counts of tampering with government records. She was taken into custody at the Travis County Jail on April 18. Bui’s attorney, Jessica Huynh, reported that Bui was later released on a $27,500 bond and has yet to enter a plea. Her next court date is set for May 9.
On April 2, the Texas Funeral Service Commission reached out to the Austin Police Department’s Homicide Unit concerning allegations against Bui and her business, Capital Mortuary Services. The police stated that they had received reports of Bui engaging in criminal activities, including the abuse of corpses and tampering with official records.
A search warrant was executed at the mortuary on April 10 after an investigation gathered enough evidence. Specific details leading to the charges came to light when a former employee of the Texas Funeral Service Commission reported that Bui had fraudulently issued at least ten death certificates. The employee claimed that Bui had been conducting experiments on the limbs of corpses, which allegedly included injecting formaldehyde to observe the effects on severed parts over time.
Additionally, it was reported that after completing these experiments, Bui would allow the dismembered body parts to be cremated in their disturbed condition. It was also discovered that Bui had documented these alleged experiments through notes and photographs shared in a group chat named “Freedom Art Experiment.”
During the execution of a search warrant on April 10, Bui reportedly admitted to using the name of a former embalmer on death certificates without their consent. Furthermore, she supposedly ordered staff to conduct experiments on about 15 bodies, claiming they had permission from a partner company, MedtoMarket. This company, however, stated they were not involved in any experimental activities but acknowledged that some limbs were embalmed to study preservation.
Amid the investigation, authorities reportedly found power tools that had human remains on them. Bui’s attorney emphasized that her client is presumed innocent until proven guilty and urged against sensationalizing the case. Huynh expressed that they intend to provide a robust defense for Bui as they navigate the complexities of the legal proceedings ahead.
