Embalmer allegedly castrated dead sex offender and 'stuffed' his genitals into his mouth

HOUSTON (TCN) -- A 34-year-old woman turned herself in to authorities for allegedly castrating a dead sex offender and placing the man’s genitals in his mouth in front of other mortuary employees.

Constable Alan Rosen of Harris County Constable Precinct 1 said in a statement that Amber Laudermilk allegedly used a scalpel to "savage the body of Charles Roy Rodriguez, 58, a registered sex offender," in February.

According to the charging documents, on Feb. 7, the funeral director in charge at Claire Brothers Funeral Home reportedly had a conversation with one of Rodriguez’s family members about his remains, and the relative relayed that Rodriguez was a sex offender. The funeral director reportedly spoke with another employee about the information, and "within minutes," the crematory director told the funeral home director and embalmer that she allegedly saw Laudermilk cut off Rodriguez’s penis "halfway and stuff it in his mouth."

The funeral home director and a funeral director ran to the cremation room, where they confirmed the other employee’s account.

The witness, who is in training to become a licensed embalmer, was reportedly "prepping an unrelated decedent" while under Laudermilk’s supervision. Laudermilk reportedly removed a medical device from Rodriguez, and the trainee told her that she heard Rodriguez was a sex offender. Laudermilk allegedly stabbed Rodriguez twice in the groin with the scalpel, then mutilated him.

Laudermilk allegedly told the witness, "You didn’t see anything." The trainee reportedly told authorities she felt Laudermilk said it in a "threatening" manner.

The affidavit says the funeral director "noticed the Defendant fondling the mouth of the decedent and shortly thereafter she noticed that the decedent’s penis was in his mouth." The director reportedly said Rodriguez’s "groin area looked disfigured," so she asked Laudermilk "what was going on." Laudermilk allegedly covered Rodriguez’s groin with a towel and said he had "a lot going on with him."

Laudermilk has been charged with abuse of a corpse.

Rosen said in his statement, "This case is about two troubled people: the victim who was a registered sex offender and the defendant, who is accused of viciously attacking his dead body. No matter what one thinks of his life, the law requires that he be treated with dignity in death."

He continued, "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. The facts clearly indicate she was angry and I hope after this is resolved in the courts, she gets the help she needs."

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