Mortuary owner accused of corpse 'experiments' previously had burial contract with Travis County

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A business operated by a woman accused of forging death certificates and cutting limbs off of corpses for "experiments," according to court documents, had a contract with Travis County for its indigent cremation and burial services program. The program provides services for individuals and families who can't cover the cost of a burial or cremation.

Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui, 50, is charged with Abuse of Corpse Without Legal Authority and Tampering with Government Records. According to online court records, she is out on bond. Police said she turned herself in to Travis County jail on April 18.

"This case involves complexities that are not immediately apparent and should not be sensationalized," said Jessica Huynh, Bui's attorney on behalf of Smith and Vinson Law Firm. "Our legal team remains fully committed to defending and advocating for our client… with the expectation of fairness and due process."

Bui's arrest warrant states she did this at Capital Mortuary Services in north Austin. Online state records listed Bui as the owner. The business itself told KXAN it has no comment on the case at this time.

According to state records, Bui is listed as the funeral director for Eternal Peace Funeral and Cremation Services as well. The funeral home is located at 16912 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd. The funeral home's website said it is contracted with the Travis County Burial Program to assist with direct burial or cremation services.

In a statement to KXAN, the county spokesperson confirmed there was a partnership at one point, but not anymore.

“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. Due to the fact that 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.” 

Hector Nieto, Travis County Spokesperson

KXAN went to the funeral home, but no one was there for comment.

'Did something happen to our loved one?'

Questions linger for an Austin family after hearing the news of the charges against Bui.

A woman, who asked to hide her identity, said her family used Capital Mortuary Services and Eternal Peace Funeral and Cremation Services for her father's funeral last month.

"Our first thought was, did something happen to our loved one? When we saw the news, we cried. It just adds another blow to the grief that we're already going through."

Former client of Capital Mortuary Services

The woman said she had a positive experience when using their services, and was even considering pre-planning her funeral with them.

"They were very kind and compassionate, and to just hear about what's going on," the woman said. "It was very shocking."

Background of the investigation

The investigation into Capital Mortuary Services stemmed from a complaint to the Texas Funeral Service Commission from a former employee who said Bui had "fraudulently initiated and obtained at least 10 death certificates under his name," and that he was aware of "experiments" Bui would allegedly conduct on corpses' arms. APD's investigation eventually revealed 128 cases where Bui used the former employee's name to complete or amend death certificates, an arrest affidavit said.

These "experiments," according to Bui's arrest affidavit, involve her injecting formaldehyde into the arms to see "the effect it had over time on severed extremities." The former employee who made the complaint showed police a screenshot from a work computer in December 2023, which appeared to show Bui posting photos and updates about the project under a conversation thread titled "Freedom Art Experiment."

The TFSC investigator wrote in her report that once Bui was finished with the limbs she "then allowed the severed body parts to be placed in the crematory retort, where the body parts in their dissected and disturbed state, would be cremated," documents said.

Anatomic Pathologist Dr. Alan Rampy spoke with KXAN about the use of formaldehyde.

"Formaldehyde is a very common, regularly used fixative in embalming, as well as in other places in medicine where we're trying to preserve tissues from decomposition," Rampy said.

Rampy said the use of it is not uncommon, however there are specific rules around its uses.

"In order to do the type of testing that you describe," he said. "There are certain regulations and authorizations that have to be met."

Bui admits to 'experiments' in affidavit

Police interviewed Bui when the department executed an April 10 search warrant for Capital Mortuary.

According to her arrest affidavit, she admitted to using the former employee's identity to submit death certificates without his consent and further confirmed that the employee had never done a death certificate at her facility.

Bui told APD she "directed her employees to conduct experiments on bodies to study the effects of embalming fluid with and without formaldehyde," which included "cutting heads, arms and spines from remains sent to her facility while acting in the licensed capacity as a mortuary," according to her arrest affidavit.

Investigators say Bui worked with a medical-training company, MedtoMarket, on the "experiments." She guessed around 15 bodies were "mutilated and subject to experimentation with the permission of MedtoMarket and was updating the company on the outcomes."

Detectives interviewed the company's CEO who, according to Bui's records, said they had a contractual agreement with Capital Mortuary for "transport and cremation services." The CEO denied any "experimental testing," but said he knew Capital Mortuary was embalming arms to see how long they could preserve them.

MedtoMarket also told police the company asked Capital Mortuary to do embalming work on two arms.

In a statement to KXAN, MedtoMarket said it "has become aware of certain allegations related to a mortuary MedtoMarket has contracted with in performing its important work and mission. MedtoMarket will cooperate with law enforcement and state regulatory officials as part of any investigation."

The company also said it is an "approved anatomical facility," which, according to the TFSC's statements in the affidavit, would potentially authorize it to perform the embalming actions Bui is accused of doing.

But TFSC's executive director told police in regards to Bui performing them at Capital Mortuary "it is unlawful for a commercial embalming establishment to use a dead human body for research or educational purposes."

In a statement Wednesday, APD said "The TFSC's administrative investigation and APD's criminal investigations remain open and ongoing. APD and the TFSC are committed to enforcing state regulations, protecting the public from predatory practices, and ensuring that decedent remains are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with Texas law."