PHOENIX – Thirty-one-year-old Fenris Lu is accused of using a crowbar to break into the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office and gaining access to corpses.
What we know:
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to a 911 call around 1:33 a.m. on May 20 for reports of a possible burglary at the downtown office.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, Lu was caught on camera breaking the seal on 11 body bags and having sexual contact with four of the bodies.
“Maricopa County Security Services and the Phoenix Police Department were already on scene and assisted in securing the facility. During a subsequent search of the building, one individual was located and ultimately taken into custody without incident,” MCSO said.
In a court appearance on May 20, a Marciopa County Attorney’s Office representative said officials requested more time to notify the potential victims’ families, and to see if there is a link to other cases.
“The state’s been informed by law enforcement investigating this case that they need a little bit of time to make notification to the next of kin for the decedents in this matter, and they’d also like a little bit of time to assess the potential impact to possibly other criminal cases in which the decedent may have been associated,” MCAO said. “Law enforcement is currently looking into were the decedents involved in other criminal cases and perhaps were the defendant’s actions possibly compromised any evidence as far as any other investigations go.”
Because of that, forensic testing, autopsies, and organ donations at the medical examiner’s office are paused.
Lu is accused of multiple felonies, including burglary, escape, and four counts of sexual conduct with a dead body. He didn’t appear in court because the commissioner felt like he was a danger to himself and others.
What we don’t know:
The identities and the number of victims were not disclosed.
What’s next:
A cash bond was set at $500,000, with electronic monitoring supervision if that bond is posted. Lu was given a preliminary hearing date for May 29.
“We want to acknowledge the coordinated response and ongoing collaboration between the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Security Services, and the Phoenix Police Department. The professionalism and partnership demonstrated by all agencies involved has been critical in ensuring the scene was safely secured, and the investigation could proceed efficiently. Out of respect for those potentially impacted and to protect the integrity of the investigation, no additional details are being released at this time,” MCSO said.
Maricopa County morgue break-in arrest
A 31-year-old man was arrested May 20 after allegedly using a crowbar to break into the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office. Law enforcement sources said Lu was caught on camera breaking the seals on several body bags inside the facility.
Map of where the medical examiner’s office is
The Source: Fernis Lu’s initial appearance in court on May 20, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
