A Houston funeral home employee castrated a dead man and stuffed his genitals in his mouth, authorities said Monday.
Amber Laudermilk, 34, is accused of slicing off the genitals of Charles Roy Rodriguez on Feb. 7 at Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, local Fox affiliate KRIV reported. Rodriguez died of natural causes at age 58 in January.
Rodriguez was a registered sex offender, according to Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen. He was charged with sexual assault in 2001 and sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication.
Investigators said Laudermilk overheard a conversation about Rodriguez being a sex offender while she was embalming his body, local ABC affiliate KRPC reported. She then sliced off Rodriguez’s penis, stabbed his genital area twice and stuffed the penis in the body’s mouth, cops said.
“I don’t know the suspect’s past, but we have the utmost empathy for anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault or is the family or friend of someone who has been the victim of a sexual assault,” Rosen said. “The facts clearly indicate she was angry, and I hope after this is resolved in the courts, she gets the help she needs.”
Laudermilk faces one felony count of abusing a corpse, authorities said. A warrant was issued for her arrest, but she has not yet been detained.
Memorial Mortuary and Crematory told KPRC that Laudermilk is no longer employed at the funeral home. Rodriguez’s body was cremated.