Charles Roy Rodriguez Houston, TX, Death: A Houston embalmer, 34-year-old Amber Paige Laudermilk, has been arrested and charged following allegations that she mutilated the corpse of a registered sex offender. The incident, which allegedly took place at Memorial Mortuary and Crematory on Pine Street in Houston, has raised serious concerns about professional ethics and conduct in the funeral industry.
According to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, the allegations were first outlined in a formal complaint letter from the Texas Funeral Service Commission. The complaint accuses Laudermilk of using a scalpel to mutilate the body of 58-year-old Charles Roy Rodriguez, who had died in January 2025 from natural causes at a Houston hospital. Rodriguez, who had a criminal history as a registered sex offender, was the victim of the alleged abuse while at Memorial Mortuary and Crematory.
The probable cause affidavit reveals disturbing details about the incident, which allegedly occurred during the embalming process. Laudermilk is accused of stabbing Rodriguez’s body and intentionally mutilating his genitals with the scalpel. The alleged act was carried out in the presence of an embalming student, who witnessed the incident and was reportedly threatened by Laudermilk to remain silent about what they had seen. The affidavit also indicates that other employees at the mortuary were intimidated into not speaking out about the abuse.
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen, who commented on the case, emphasized the gravity of the alleged act, stating, “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 further noted that regardless of public opinion on Rodriguez’s criminal history, the law mandates that all individuals, including registered sex offenders, must be treated with dignity in death.
The charges against Laudermilk are serious, and the Texas Funeral Service Commission’s investigation into the incident has led to an arrest warrant being issued for the embalmers’ arrest. The investigation has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the allegations, as well as the ethical concerns surrounding the treatment of a deceased person’s body.
In a statement regarding the case, Constable Rosen expressed empathy for victims of sexual assault, acknowledging the complex emotions surrounding the situation. He said, “I don’t know the suspect’s past, but we have the utmost empathy for anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault or is the family or friend of someone who has been the victim of a sexual assault.” However, he continued, “The facts clearly indicate she was angry and I hope after this is resolved in the courts, she gets the help she needs.”
According to the Texas online sex offender registry, Rodriguez had been convicted over a decade ago for sexually assaulting a 31-year-old woman, a fact that adds to the complexity of public opinion on the case. Despite Rodriguez’s criminal past, the charges against Laudermilk focus on her alleged misconduct during the embalming process, which, regardless of the victim’s history, violates the ethical standards of the funeral service industry.
As the case moves forward, it remains to be seen how the legal system will address both the criminal charges against Laudermilk and the ethical concerns raised by the incident. The funeral home where the alleged abuse took place has not publicly commented on the matter as of yet, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
Amber Paige Laudermilk’s arrest underscores the need for accountability in professions that deal with the deceased, and this case highlights the importance of upholding ethical practices and respecting the dignity of all individuals, regardless of their past actions.