Austin mortuary worker Adeline Bui stands accused of horrific corpse experiments, including injecting formaldehyde into severed limbs and forging death certificates while operating a facility that once held contracts with Travis County.
Key Takeaways
- Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, 50, faces multiple felony charges, including abuse of corpse and tampering with government records, after allegedly conducting unauthorized experiments on human remains.
- Bui allegedly forged at least ten death certificates using a former employee’s identity and license number without consent, violating state regulations.
- The mortuary owner reportedly conducted gruesome experiments, including injecting formaldehyde into severed limbs to observe decomposition effects over time.
- Capital Mortuary Services previously held contracts with Travis County for indigent burial services before being shut down with a cease-and-desist order for critical safety violations.
Disturbing Allegations Against Mortuary Owner
The case against Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui has shocked the Austin community as details emerge about alleged corpse abuse and document fraud at Capital Mortuary Services. Bui, 50, now faces 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. The investigation began after a former employee filed a complaint with the Texas Funeral Service Commission, alleging that Bui had been conducting unauthorized experiments on human remains and falsifying official documents in his name.
Court documents reveal that Bui allegedly admitted to using a former employee’s identity to fraudulently obtain death certificates and conducting experiments that included cutting heads, arms, and spines from deceased bodies. The investigation uncovered that Bui specifically conducted tests injecting formaldehyde into severed limbs to observe the decomposition process over time. These disturbing activities reportedly date back to at least August 2022, showing a long-standing pattern of malpractice at the facility that once served some of Austin’s most vulnerable deceased residents.
Austin mortuary employee arrested for allegedly ‘experimenting’ on corpses:
A North Austin mortuary employee is facing felony charges after allegedly experimenting on corpses and fraudulently obtaining death certificates.Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, 50, was… https://t.co/cBQ3584n4q
— Elwin Sidney (@ElwinSidney) April 24, 2025
Government Contracts and Public Trust Violated
Perhaps most concerning to taxpayers is that Capital Mortuary Services held contracts with Travis County for indigent cremation and burial services until July 2024. These contracts meant Bui’s business was entrusted with the respectful handling of deceased individuals with no family or financial means for proper burial. Travis County has since terminated its relationship with Bui’s business following the disturbing allegations, though the timing raises questions about oversight and accountability in government contracting with sensitive services.
“Travis County empathizes with the families who have allegedly been victimized by Capital Mortuary Services. No family should suffer like this during their time of grief. While Travis County did have a contract with Eternal Peace Funeral and Cremation Services, it was suspended in July 2024 and then ultimately terminated. Because there is pending legal action between Travis County and Eternal Peace Funeral and Cremation Services, there is no additional information I can offer at this time,” said Hector Nieto.
The Austin Police Department received eight death certificates allegedly signed by the former embalmer via electronic signature, which he claims he never authorized. In one particularly damning piece of evidence, Bui allegedly communicated with a former employee about a fraudulent certificate in December 2023, sending screenshots and photos of severed arms as part of their conversation. These communications provide direct evidence of both the document tampering and corpse abuse that form the basis of the charges.
Facility Shutdown and Legal Defense
On April 10, authorities issued a cease-and-desist letter to Capital Mortuary Services for failing to meet building, health, and safety codes, requiring immediate cessation of operations. The facility is now permanently closed following the investigation. Texas Funeral Service Commission investigators reported that Bui allowed severed body parts to be cremated in their dissected state, further violating proper protocols for handling human remains and potentially destroying evidence of her alleged experiments.
“This case involves complexities that are not immediately apparent and should not be sensationalized,” said Jessica Huynh, Bui’s legal representative.
While Bui’s legal team emphasizes the presumption of innocence and urges against sensationalizing the case, the evidence presented in court documents paints a disturbing picture of systematic abuse of trust, legal violations, and disrespect for the deceased. The mortuary owner allegedly collaborated with MedtoMarket, a medical-training company, for some of these experiments, though the company denies involvement in experimental testing. The ongoing investigation by the Texas Funeral Service Commission and the Austin Police Department continues to determine the full extent of the violations and whether additional charges may be forthcoming.
