A Texas man with a history of violent criminal acts, including ramming a truck into a Dallas news station in 2018, has been arrested once more for an alleged shocking incident involving human remains. Michael Chadwick Fry, aged 41, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with abuse of a corpse after police say he tossed human bones at an FBI field office in Dallas.
Disturbing Allegations and YouTube Video
According to authorities in Bartonville, Texas, Fry filmed himself throwing what appeared to be human remains over a fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI Dallas office and posted the video on YouTube. The probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News reveals that Fry's mother called police on March 16 after her son asked for money to rent a U-Haul. When she inquired why, Fry reportedly said he "had a body that needed to be moved," then became irate and left the home.
Shortly after, police received a call from Fry's sister stating he had filmed himself on YouTube throwing "Elizabeth's remains" at the FBI office. The Denton Record-Chronicle reports that the video showed Fry throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence. He claimed he was trying to compel the FBI to intervene in what he described as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest.
Forensic Analysis and Cemetery Investigations
The FBI confirmed the bucket contained numerous bones that appeared to be human, and they are now awaiting further forensic analysis. Fry later posted another YouTube video showing what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home, which he allegedly called "Elizabeth Virginia Lyons." This led police to believe the skull came from the same set of remains as those in the bucket.
However, Denton police spokesperson Amy Cunningham stated that Lyons was buried at a local cemetery and her grave remains undisturbed. Fry's mother told police she found three searches for cemeteries in her vehicle's GPS history—one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also reported finding a shovel that was not previously at their home and noted her son had started locking the shed, which he hadn't done before.
As the investigation progressed, authorities learned Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City, which was already under police investigation there. FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton indicating a coffin with human remains had been removed from a mausoleum. Reporters visited the cemetery and observed damage to the Magee mausoleum, which contains the remains of Jasper P Magee and Mary Myrtle Wright, a married couple who died in 1942 and 1940, respectively.
Connection to 2018 News Station Attack
Police have confirmed to KDFW that Fry is the same individual who rammed a truck into a Dallas news station's building in downtown Dallas in 2018. Footage from that attack showed Fry slowly approaching the building, coming to a full stop before accelerating and swerving head-on into it. The vehicle then reversed, pulling a large panel of glass with it, and slammed into another part of the building.
At the time, police arrived on the scene and arrested a ranting man behind the wheel of the pickup truck. Fry was seen pacing and scattering handwritten leaflets outside but was unable to enter the building. He left behind a suspicious bright orange duffel bag, prompting police to set up a perimeter and bring in a bomb squad. Officers later determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting that killed his friend, and a Dallas police spokesperson said he was trying to get media attention. Fry later apologized to the news station during a court hearing.
Extensive Criminal History and Current Status
Fry has a lengthy criminal record, with 28 arrests by the Denton County Sheriff's Office, Denton Police Department, and Argyle Police Department dating back to August 5, 2003. Charges include burglary, engaging in organized criminal activity, arson, theft, making terroristic threats, and resisting arrest. His most recent arrest before this incident was on March 20, 2022, for criminal mischief that occurred on October 26, 2021, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette.
The case against Fry remains active, and police have notified the next of kin. He is currently being held on a $300,000 surety bond as authorities continue their investigation into this disturbing series of events.
