FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Owner of Capital Mortuary Services Arrested Following Joint Texas Funeral Service Commission and Austin Police Department Investigation
Date: April 23, 2025
Austin, TX — On Friday, April 18, 2025 the Austin Police Department (APD) arrested Ms. Adeline Nganbinh Bui, license 119916, owner of Capital Mortuary Services (CMS), license 2424 and 3847, on charges including abuse of a corpse and five additional counts related to tampering with a government license.
The arrest follows an administrative investigation conducted by the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) on April 10, 2025, at CMS, located at 201 Victor Street, Austin, Texas 78753. The investigation was prompted by a formal complaint received by the agency earlier this month that resulted in a coordinated effort with APD, which has since expanded into an active criminal investigation.
The Commission’s administrative investigation remains ongoing. TFSC is committed to enforcing state regulations, protecting the public from predatory practices, and ensuring that decedent remains are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with Texas law.
Anyone with additional information concerning Capital Mortuary Services is urged to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or visit our website at www.tfsc.texas.gov to file a complaint. Additionally, you may contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS or submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
All media inquiries related to the criminal investigation should be directed to the Austin Police Department Public Information Office at (512) 974-5017 or via email at https://www.austintexas.gov/email/police3.
Contact Information: Scott Bingaman, Executive Director, Texas Funeral Service Commission
Phone: (512) 936-2474 Email: legal@tfsc.texas.gov
Website: www.tfsc.texas.gov
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TFSC Prioritizes Identification and Reuniting Unclaimed Remains from Richardson Mortuary
Date: April 23, 2025
Houston, TX — As part of a coordinated response with the Texas Funeral Service Commission (Commission), the Houston Police Department’s Major Offenders Division has taken custody of 89 sets of cremated remains (cremains) that were being stored at Richardson Mortuary. As of April 20, only six sets of remains have been claimed by next of kin.
The Commission’s first priority has been and continues to be to ensure that all decedent remains are treated with dignity and returned to their rightful families. TFSC remains dedicated to rigorously enforcing state regulations, protecting the public from harmful practices, and ensuring that all decedent remains are handled with the utmost dignity and respect.
On April 11, 2025, the Commission conducted an on-site inspection of Richardson Mortuary, which revealed serious regulatory concerns. The findings from that inspection now serve as the foundation for the agency’s ongoing administrative investigation and will guide the Commission’s efforts to bring resolution to the affected families.
The Commission is steadfastly committed to ensuring that all decedent remains formerly in the custody of Richardson Mortuary are properly accounted for and that next of kin are identified and notified.
Families with questions or concerns regarding their loved ones’ ashes or services provided by Richardson Mortuary are strongly urged to contact:
Detective J.P. Varela
Houston Police Department – Major Offenders Division
Phone: (713) 308-3100 or (713) 308-3192
Anyone with additional information regarding Richardson Mortuary is encouraged to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or file a complaint by visiting www.tfsc.texas.gov.
Contact: Scott Bingaman, Executive Director Texas Funeral Service Commission
Phone: (512) 936-2474
Email: legal@tfsc.texas.gov
Website: www.tfsc.texas.gov
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Texas Funeral Service Commission Orders Immediate Shutdown of Richardson Mortuary
Date: April 14, 2025
Houston, TX — The Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) has issued an immediate Cease-and-Desist Order against Richardson Mortuary, effective today, April 14, 2025. This action follows significant violations discovered during an inspection conducted on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Preliminary inspection findings have substantiated several complaints received by the Commission regarding Richardson Mortuary, including:
- Failure to comply with building, health, and safety code standards.
- Unprofessional conduct in delivering funeral services.
- Negligent practices in embalming and funeral directing, resulting in deception and harm to the public.
Although the inspection of Richardson Mortuary is complete, the Commission’s investigation into the establishment's practices and compliance continues.
The TFSC remains dedicated to rigorously enforcing state regulations, protecting the public from harmful practices, and ensuring that all decedent remains are handled with the utmost dignity and respect.
Anyone with additional information concerning Richardson Mortuary is urged to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or visit our website at www.tfsc.texas.gov.
Contact Information: Scott Bingaman Executive Director Texas Funeral Service Commission
Phone: 512-936-2474
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Events Concerning Richardson Mortuary
Date: April 11, 2025
Houston, TX — The Texas Funeral Service Commission (Commission) is aware of the developing situation at Richardson Mortuary and are working with the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department to resolve the matter. Residents are encouraged to file complaints to the Commission here or by calling the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-755-6044.
The Commission remains committed to enforcing state regulations to protect the interests and safety of the public from predatory practices and to ensure that decedent remains are treated with dignity and respect. We urge anyone with information concerning this situation to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or visit our website, www.tfsc.texas.gov for more information.
Contact Information: Scott Bingaman Executive Director Texas Funeral Service Commission
Phone: 512-936-2474
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Texas Funeral Service Commission Acts on Unlicensed Operation at the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC)
Date: March 26, 2025
Plano, TX – The Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) has issued an immediate cease-and-desist order to East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), located at 4700 14th Street, Plano, Texas, following findings that the establishment has been unlawfully functioning as a funeral establishment without the requisite licensing— a violation of Tex. Occ. Code § 651.351.
After receiving information regarding funeral operations being advertised on the website epicmasjid.org, TFSC confirmed that EPIC has been offering comprehensive funeral services. These services, as described on their website, include body transportation, ghusl (body wash), private viewing, and funeral prayers, activities that collectively necessitate a funeral establishment license under Texas law.
Specifically, Tex. Occ. Code § 651.351 mandates that any establishment conducting funeral business must possess a license issued by the TFSC. EPIC’s actions constitute funeral directing as defined under Section 651.001 of the Occupations Code outlining the responsibilities and services considered under funeral directing.
Given the seriousness of these findings, the TFSC has also made a criminal referral to the Collin County District Attorney as per § 651.602 of the Occupations Code, which could lead to criminal charges of unlawful operations to the public.
The TFSC remains committed to enforcing state regulations to protect the interests and safety of the public from predatory practices and to ensure that decedent remains are treated with dignity and respect. We urge anyone with information concerning this investigation to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or visit our website, www.tfsc.texas.gov for more information.
Contact Information: Scott Bingaman Executive Director Texas Funeral Service Commission Phone: 512-936-2474
Governor Abbot Announces Action Action Taken Against East Plano Islamic Center
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 11, 2025
Houston, TX — On February 18, the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) received a complaint regarding alleged misconduct by Amber P. Laudermilk, a licensed embalmer previously employed by Claire Brothers Funeral Home. The incident, which reportedly occurred on February 7, 2025, at Memorial Mortuary & Crematory in Houston, involved the alleged mutilation of a deceased individual and subsequent efforts to conceal this misconduct, including intimidation of staff.
On February 21, the TFSC engaged the Harris County Constable’s Office for enforcement support, sharing detailed findings from the ongoing investigation. The preliminary findings substantiated the allegations against Ms. Laudermilk, confirming serious misconduct. Evidence indicates Ms. Laudermilk violated several legal statutes, including TEX. PENAL CODE § 42.08, Abuse of Corpse and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 209.1(e)(9), which governs the proper handling, custody, care, and transport of a decedent. Further investigations are ongoing, and additional administrative violations may be forthcoming.
The agency has since determined that an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare exists and is initiating the immediate suspension of Ms. Laudermilk’s Texas embalmer license effective today.
We extend our gratitude to the Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 1 for their crucial cooperation and support in advancing this investigation.
Public Assistance Requested: We urge anyone with information related to this case to please contact either the Harris County Constable’s Office or the TFSC’s Investigations Unit using the contact details provided below.
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