Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, a 50-year-old employee of a North Austin mortuary, is facing serious charges for alleged misconduct involving corpses and fraudulent acquisition of death certificates. Bui has been charged with one count of state-jail felony abuse of a corpse and five counts of second-degree felony tampering with governmental records with intent to defraud or harm.
Court documents reveal that these incidents date back to August 2022. A former embalmer at Capital Mortuary Services has accused Bui of fraudulently initiating and obtaining at least ten death certificates under his name and license number without his consent. He also alleges that Bui conducted unauthorized experiments on separated anatomical structures, specifically the arms of an unidentified deceased individual.
The alleged experiment involved injecting formaldehyde into the severed arms and observing the effects over time. The Austin Police Department received eight death certificates that were allegedly signed by the former embalmer using an electronic signature, according to court documents. The former embalmer denies having any role in the funeral directorship at Capital Mortuary Services, stating that he was employed as a crematory operator, driver, and embalmer.
In December 2023, Bui allegedly communicated with a former employee about a fraudulent certificate, including screenshots in the conversation. The communication reportedly included a statement from Bui suggesting the use of the update to monitor their experiment, followed by images of severed and detached arms in various stages of decomposition.
Investigators from the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) communicated with the Austin Police Department, stating that Bui allowed the severed body parts to be placed in the crematory retort for cremation in their dissected and disturbed state.
Bui’s legal team has responded to the allegations, emphasizing the presumption of innocence in the criminal justice system and the need for a careful evaluation of the evidence and facts. They cautioned against sensationalizing the case, which they say involves complexities that are not immediately apparent. They affirmed their commitment to defending Bui, expecting fairness and due process.
Capital Mortuary Services, where Bui was employed, has since ceased operations.