A Texas mortuary operator is at the center of a disturbing scandal, accused of mutilating corpses to conduct unauthorized experiments testing the effects of embalming fluids, according to authorities.
Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, 50, owner of Capital Mortuary Services in Austin, faces serious charges including abuse of a corpse and tampering with government records, local police announced.
The investigation began after an employee — an embalmer working at the facility — raised concerns to the Texas Funeral Commission. According to court documents, the whistleblower reported that Bui and her staff were conducting grotesque procedures on bodies entrusted to their care.
When questioned by investigators, Bui allegedly admitted to orchestrating a series of experiments to observe how embalming fluids with and without formaldehyde would affect human tissue. The experiments reportedly involved severing heads, arms, and spines from the deceased without any legal or scientific authorization.
In an affidavit filed by Austin police Detective Brice Bishop on April 17, authorities detailed the extent of the alleged misconduct.
“Bui confirmed she had directed her employees to conduct experiments on bodies to study the effects of embalming fluid, which included cutting heads, arms, and spines from remains sent to her facility while acting in the licensed capacity as a mortuary,” Bishop wrote.
Bui estimated that up to 15 bodies had been mutilated during these unauthorized experiments.
The accusations have sparked outrage within the local community, where Capital Mortuary Services had long provided funeral arrangements and cremation services. Families who entrusted their loved ones to the mortuary are now left reeling at the thought of what may have happened behind closed doors.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Bui remains free on bail. Her attorney, Jessica Huynh, has urged the public to withhold judgment until all facts are properly examined in court.
“Our criminal justice system is based on the presumption of innocence and a careful, critical evaluation of the evidence, facts, and their sources,” Huynh said in a statement to NBC News.
“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.”
As the investigation continues, regulators and law enforcement officials are working to determine whether any additional violations occurred — including whether next-of-kin were misled, and whether any civil liability could arise from the alleged mutilations.
This case underscores broader concerns about oversight within the funeral and mortuary industries in Texas, where enforcement resources are often stretched thin. It has also renewed calls for stricter inspections and more transparent reporting processes for funeral homes and mortuaries across the state.
For now, the families affected — and the public at large — await answers to how such alleged abuses could happen under the guise of professional funeral care.