Authorities are searching for a Houston embalmer accused of mutilating a deceased man’s body after learning he was a registered sex offender, according to Harris County court records.
Amber Laudermilk, 34, faces a felony charge of abuse of a corpse following the alleged incident on February 7. Court records state that Laudermilk, a licensed embalmer in Texas, cut off the man’s genitals and placed them in his mouth before cremation. She then allegedly threatened other employees to remain silent about what had occurred.
“This is a vicious, brutal attack of a corpse. The person’s already dead,” Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said. “When someone dies, there’s some dignity that should be left … it’s kind of shocking, even to me.”
Incident Details
The alleged mutilation took place at Memorial Mortuary and Crematory on Pine Street. According to investigators, a funeral director had been speaking with the deceased man’s family about dividing his remains between his new spouse and a daughter from a previous marriage. During the conversation, a family member mentioned that the man had been a registered sex offender.
Court records indicate that soon after this discussion, an employee at the funeral home saw Laudermilk cut off the victim’s genitals and stab him twice in the groin with a scalpel. She then allegedly warned the witness, “You didn’t see anything.”
Before the body was cremated, another employee noticed the mutilation and saw the penis in the victim’s mouth. Laudermilk reportedly covered the area with a towel and dismissed concerns by saying the deceased “had a lot going on with him.”
Investigation and Industry Response
The funeral home reported the incident to the Texas Funeral Service Commission 10 days later, citing employees’ fear of speaking out sooner.
Scott Bingaman, the commission’s executive director, noted that this is the only reported criminal abuse of a corpse case in Texas over the past two years. He urged families to verify funeral home licenses and credentials before entrusting them with a loved one’s remains.
Memorial Mortuary and Crematory confirmed that Laudermilk is no longer employed there but declined further comment due to the ongoing legal case. She is not currently in custody.
Ethical Concerns in the Funeral Industry
Jason Altieri, CEO of Southeast Texas Crematory, emphasized the importance of ethics in the industry.
“Whether we have a particular judgment one way or the other, it doesn’t matter. We’re there for a family, and we have to keep that in mind,” he said.
Altieri advised families to research crematories, ask questions, and read reviews before selecting a provider. He acknowledged that this case could tarnish the industry’s reputation, stating, “It’s unfortunate because it makes us all really look bad. We need to make sure that everybody’s doing things ethically.”
Authorities continue to investigate as they work to locate Laudermilk.
