A disturbing case out of North Texas has resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old man accused of desecrating human remains and attempting to involve federal authorities in what appears to be a grievance against local officials.
Michael Chadwick Fry of Bartonville was taken into custody Thursday and charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. The charges stem from an incident in which Fry allegedly threw a bucket containing human bones over the fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office, an act he recorded and posted to YouTube.
The investigation began March 16 when a Bartonville police officer responded to a call from Fry’s mother. According to the probable cause affidavit, she reported that her son had requested money for a U-Haul rental, stating he “had a body that needed to be moved.” When questioned further, Fry became irate and left the residence.
Shortly thereafter, Fry’s sister informed the responding officer that her brother had filmed himself at the FBI building in Dallas. The video evidence shows Fry throwing a large white bucket over the security fence into the restricted parking area. In the recording, Fry claimed he was attempting to force FBI intervention regarding what he characterized as misconduct by Denton County officials related to a previous arrest. The nature of that alleged misconduct has not been disclosed.
An FBI special agent confirmed that the bucket contained numerous bones that appeared to be human in origin. Those remains are currently undergoing forensic analysis to determine their identity and origin.
The investigation expanded when authorities discovered additional YouTube videos posted by Fry. One video showed what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County residence. Another revealed separate human remains and an urn containing ashes.
Fry’s mother provided investigators with additional concerning information. She discovered that her vehicle’s GPS history included three searches for cemeteries—one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also noted the sudden appearance of a shovel at the residence and reported that her son had begun locking a backyard shed that previously remained unlocked.
The joint investigation by Bartonville police and FBI agents determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from an Oklahoma City cemetery. That theft had been the subject of a separate Oklahoma City Police Department investigation since February.
Furthermore, FBI agents discovered evidence at a cemetery in Denton, Texas, indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims whose remains were disturbed, nor have they suggested a motive for why Fry may have targeted specific graves.
The case remains under active investigation. Next of kin of the deceased have been notified.
As of Sunday, Fry remained in custody on a $30,000 surety bond. It is unclear whether he has retained legal counsel.
This is not Fry’s first encounter with law enforcement or the media. He previously made headlines for ramming a truck into a local television station building in downtown Dallas.
The charges Fry faces are serious. Abuse of a corpse carries significant penalties in Texas, reflecting the state’s recognition of the sanctity of human remains and the rights of families to see their loved ones treated with dignity, even in death.
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