Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : An Arizona man has been arrested and charged with five counts of crimes against a dead person after an investigation revealed that he allegedly performed a sexual act on a corpse at a Phoenix hospital. The suspect, 46-year-old Randall Scott Bird, was employed as a security guard at Banner University Medical Center, where one of his responsibilities was participating in the intake process at the hospital morgue.
According to court documents, the intake process involves taking custody of dead bodies, verifying their identity, and placing them inside a freezer until they are claimed by family members. Security officers are not allowed to open body bags, but they are responsible for moving the bodies and placing them on freezer shelves.
Bird’s alleged victim was identified as a 79-year-old woman who died of natural causes. On October 22, her body was transported to the morgue, and Bird was left alone with it. When two security guards arrived at the morgue nearly an hour later, they noticed that the main entrance was locked from the inside, which they found unusual. Upon unlocking the door, they also discovered that the freezer door was cracked open.
Witnesses reported seeing Bird inside the freezer, sweating profusely and acting very nervous. His duty belt was found on top of a gurney where a bagged deceased body was placed, and his uniform appeared messy with the zipper on his pants wide open. The body bag containing the victim was completely unzipped, and a portion of her body was exposed with her hospital gown rolled up. These were all irregularities that raised concerns among the witnesses, who reported the incident to their supervisor.
Following an internal investigation and contact with law enforcement, Bird was interviewed by investigators on October 25. He claimed to have had a medical episode in the morgue freezer and had no recollection of what happened. However, a DNA analysis later connected him to the crime, leading to his arrest on November 28.
Banner Health, the organization that operates the hospital, responded to the incident by stating that they were “saddened and appalled” by the actions of the employee. They initiated an internal investigation, terminated Bird’s employment, and filed a report with law enforcement. The organization remains committed to high standards that prioritize compassion, dignity, and respect for all individuals.
A preliminary hearing for Bird is scheduled for December 7, and if he posts the $10,000 bond, he will be subject to several restrictions, including a ban from returning to the morgue. The Phoenix Police Department is continuing its investigation, and Banner Health has pledged to cooperate with law enforcement.