Incident at Phoenix Coroner’s Office
Warning: Graphic content
A person close to a man accused of sexual abuse of corpses stated that this individual was struggling with methamphetamine addiction, spiraling downward into a troubling state.
Phoenix police reported that 31-year-old Fenris Lu allegedly broke into the Maricopa County coroner’s office early Wednesday morning, where he reportedly abused over a dozen corpses.
“If you’re dead, you’re powerless,” remarked Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan. “This represents a sort of ultimate control.” Authorities indicated that video evidence shows Lu engaging with the bodies of four deceased males.
Though there were worries about potential contamination from these acts, Sheriff Sheridan reassured that the medical investigation was not compromised and none of the bodies were linked to any active criminal inquiries.
Dr. Rebecca Hsu, a forensic pathologist, suggested that Lu may be experiencing severe mental health issues. “There are many mental disorders that could culminate in a need for control, especially when dealing with the deceased who cannot retaliate,” she explained.
A long-time friend of Lu, who talked to the media, indicated that Lu hails from China and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Washington, where he had also been teaching. He mentioned that Lu relocated to Phoenix following a toxic relationship, and he observed a decline in Lu’s mental state coinciding with his drug addiction.
“My heart goes out to all the families who’ve entrusted their loved ones to that facility and faced such violation. I truly believe that with better support for individuals grappling with addiction and mental health, this could have been avoided,” he reflected.
The friend also expressed skepticism regarding a sexual motive, saying, “I doubt his intention was purely for sexual gratification. It seems he was likely in a chaotic or disturbed mental state.”
He reminisced positively about Lu, saying, “He was incredibly intelligent. We would discuss life and various topics. It pains me to see someone so brilliant fall into such darkness.”
