A Texas embalmer who mutilated the corpse of a registered sex offender has had criminal charges against her dismissed after completing an alternative resolution program.
Amber Laudermilk, a provisional embalmer in Houston, was accused of cutting off the penis of Charles Roy Rodriguez, 58, a registered sex offender who died of natural causes, and placing it in his mouth.
According to a court complaint, a witness told detectives that Laudermilk stabbed Rodriguez twice in the groin with a scalpel, severed his penis, and inserted it into his mouth. Laudermilk allegedly told the witness, 'You didn't see anything.'
However, the witness reported the incident to authorities. A funeral director also stated that she saw Laudermilk fondling the deceased's mouth and noticed the penis was inside.
The case was dismissed earlier this month in Harris County District Court after prosecutors filed a motion citing an 'alternative resolution agreement.' The agreement required Laudermilk to complete a class, though details of the class were not disclosed.
Laudermilk's embalmer license, which was suspended after her arrest in March, has since expired. The Texas Funeral Service Commission confirmed the license was not renewed.
The incident occurred after staff at Memorial Mortuary & Crematory learned of Rodriguez's criminal history as a sex offender. Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen commented at the time of the arrest, emphasizing that even those with criminal pasts deserve dignity in death.
'No matter what one thinks of his life, the law requires that he be treated with dignity in death,' Rosen said. '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.'
Rosen expressed empathy for victims of sexual assault but noted that the embalmer's actions were unlawful. 'The facts clearly indicate she was angry, and I hope after this is resolved in the courts, she gets the help she needs,' he added.
The case has sparked debate about vigilante justice and the treatment of deceased offenders. While some may sympathize with Laudermilk's motives, legal experts stress that mutilating a corpse is a crime under Texas law.
