Hospital security guard accused of having sex with corpse of 79-year-old woman in morgue freezer

A now-fired security guard was arrested for allegedly having sex with the corpse of a 79-year-old woman at the morgue of a hospital in Arizona.

Randall Bird, 46, was charged with five counts of crimes against a dead person, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Bird's bond was set at $10,000.

Bird had been a security guard at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. His job responsibilities included transporting dead bodies to the morgue and placing them inside a freezer.

The corpse of the 79-year-old woman who had died of natural causes arrived at the morgue on Oct. 22. The same day, two witnesses reportedly claimed to have arrived at the morgue, where the doors were locked from the inside — an unusual occurrence. According to court documents, witnesses saw a light on inside the morgue's freezer, and the door was cracked.

WMTV reported, "The two witnesses reportedly saw Bird inside the freezer, where he was 'sweating profusely' and 'acting very nervous.'"

The body bag for the elderly woman's corpse was unzipped and she was face down with Bird's belt on top of the gurney where the body was, court docs said.

Security guards said as they walked into the morgue, Bird allegedly attempted to cover the victim's body.

Bird said he allegedly had a medical episode and fainted. He reportedly grabbed the body bag as he fell.

Bird reportedly told the witnesses that the body bag had torn open, and the zipper broke. However, witnesses noticed that the bag and the zipper were not broken.

The pair reported Bird to their supervisor.

Officers with the Phoenix Police Department were dispatched to the Banner University Medical Center on Oct. 24.

When detectives interviewed Bird, he told them that he experienced a medical emergency at the morgue, fainted, and couldn't remember anything from the incident.

Investigators determined that the woman's dead body showed signs of trauma. Police also noted that the corpse had Bird's DNA on it – which made him a necrophilia suspect.

Officials at Banner Health confirmed that Bird no longer works at the hospital.

"We are saddened and appalled by the alleged actions of an individual at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix that resulted in his arrest on November 28, 2023," Banner Health said in a statement.

"Banner initiated an internal investigation, filed a report with law enforcement, and terminated the employee," the hospital said.

"Banner Health has and remains committed to high standards that require each of our team members to treat everyone, at every stage of life, with compassion, dignity, and respect," Banner Health added. "We are grateful for the work of the Phoenix Police Department in the investigation and handling of this matter, and we will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."

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