Texas Justice

Texas Embalmer Charged After Allegedly Mutilating Deceased Sex Offender

By Sharnellia Bennett-Smith

Houston, TX – A Texas embalmer has been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse after allegedly cutting off the penis of a deceased registered sex offender and stuffing the remains in his mouth, at a Houston funeral home. The case has sparked controversy, as the embalmer now faces more time behind bars than the man whose history of abuse led to the crime.

According to court documents, Amber Paige Laudermilk, 34, was working at Memorial Mortuary and Crematory on February 7, 2025, when she learned that the body she was preparing belonged to Charles Roy Rodriguez, a 58-year-old registered sex offender. In the presence of an embalming student, Laudermilk allegedly took a scalpel and stabbed Rodriguez’s groin area twice before partially amputating his penis and placing it in his mouth.

Witnesses reported that after the incident, Laudermilk threatened them into silence, warning them not to speak about what had occurred. The funeral director later reported the matter to the Texas Funeral Service Commission, which in turn contacted law enforcement. Following an investigation, Laudermilk was arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse. She later turned herself in and was released on a $5,000 bond.

Rodriguez, who had died of natural causes in January, was a convicted sex offender required to register for life. Court records show he had been charged with sexual assault in 2001 and received a sentence of 10 years of deferred adjudication, meaning he never served significant prison time for his crimes against women and children. Now, Laudermilk faces a more severe punishment than Rodriguez ever did, as the charge against her carries a potential sentence of up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The case has drawn strong reactions, with some arguing that while her actions were legally and ethically indefensible, the stark contrast in sentencing raises deeper questions about the justice system’s treatment of sexual offenders versus those who act against them. Authorities, however, have maintained that no matter the circumstances, desecrating a corpse is a serious offense under Texas law.

Memorial Mortuary and Crematory has since distanced itself from the incident, stating that Laudermilk concealed her actions from management and that they reported the incident to authorities as soon as they became aware of it. Her embalmer’s license has been suspended pending further legal proceedings.