An Arizona man has been arrested on charges of breaking into a medical examiner's office and sexually abusing corpses, according to local authorities. Fenris Lu, 31, allegedly entered the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner in downtown Phoenix early Wednesday morning.
Details of the Incident
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:30 a.m. regarding a possible burglary. Officers arrived to find Lu inside the facility, having gained entry using a crowbar. Surveillance footage showed him breaking the seals on 11 body bags, and police allege he made sexual contact with at least four of the deceased individuals.
Charges Filed
Lu faces multiple charges, including burglary, escape, and four counts of sexual conduct with a dead body. A representative from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office stated that law enforcement needs time to notify the next of kin of the deceased and to assess any potential impact on other criminal cases involving the victims.
Authorities are currently investigating whether the bodies were connected to other cases and if Lu's actions may have compromised evidence. As a result, autopsies and organ donations have been paused.
Court Appearance
Lu did not appear in court on Wednesday after a commissioner deemed him a danger to himself and others. He is being held on a $500,000 cash bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 29.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office acknowledged the coordinated response between multiple agencies, including the Phoenix Police Department, and stated that no further details would be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Similar Case in England
In 2024, a necrophiliac in England, Damon Tingay, was sentenced to six years in prison after breaking into a hospital mortuary and performing sexual acts on two male bodies. Tingay, 30, forced his way into the mortuary at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, spending four minutes inside before being discovered by staff.
