Years after her son’s unexplained death, a Texas mother says she was gutted to find what she believed was the “skinned” and “butchered body” of her 23-year-old on display in a Las Vegas museum.
On Nov. 10, 2012, Chris Erick, 23, was found dead in his bed at his grandmother’s home in Midlothian, Texas, about 30 miles south of Dallas, where he had been living.
Authorities told his mother, Kim Erick, that he had died in his sleep after suffering two heart attacks, attributing it to an undiagnosed heart condition, CBS News reported.
When she saw his body at a local funeral home two days later, the explanation still hung in place – but before she could make any decisions about burial, Chris’ father and grandmother arranged for his cremation, and gave the mom only a necklace containing what she was told were some of his ashes.
Death ruled ‘undetermined’
Despite the official explanation, Erick remained unsettled and demanded further testing.
The results confirmed her suspicions – a lethal concentration of cyanide was found in her son’s system, prompting officials to revise the cause of death from cardiac arrest to cyanide toxicity. The manner of death was changed to “undetermined.”
“The police made me feel crazy,” the grieving mom said at the time. “Finally, I got a letter from the district attorney that he was taking it to a grand jury to let them decide.”
But in 2014, an Ellis County grand jury reviewed the case as part of a murder investigation, but no charges were filed, and the suicide ruling by undetermined means remained unchanged.
‘The Brain’
Determined to uncover the truth, Erick started her own research, focusing on the distinct skull fracture her son had sustained. That investigation ultimately led her to Real Bodies, a touring anatomy exhibition known for displaying real human cadavers preserved through a process called plastination.
As she studied the publicly available images from the exhibit, she was startled by one particular body called “The Brain” that appeared to display the same right-temple skull fracture she had seen in Chris’ medical records.
Additionally, she noted that the shoulder area – where her son had a tattoo – had been carved clean, which she believes may have been a deliberate attempt to conceal his identity.
“I knew it was him; it was so unbelievably painful to look at,” she reportedly said. “My words cannot describe how this shook me and my family to its core. I was actually looking at pictures of my son’s skinned, butchered body. It is gut-wrenching.”
The physical resemblance was too specific to ignore, and what began as a search for closure quickly turned into a new chapter in her investigation.
Body displayed since 2004
Following her discovery, Erick launched a public campaign demanding DNA testing of the specimen. Imagine Exhibitions – the team behind the Real Bodies exhibition – rejected her request, insisting that there was “no factual basis” for the claim and stating that the figure had been on display for over 20 years – long before Chris’ death.
“The referenced specimen has been on continuous display in Las Vegas since 2004 and cannot be associated with the individual named in these claims. All specimens are ethically sourced and biologically unidentifiable. We remain committed to ensuring that all exhibits meet the highest ethical and legal standards,” organizers said in a statement.
Mom committed to finding truth
Shortly after Erick’s allegations were made public, the figure identified as “The Thinker” was quietly removed from the Las Vegas exhibit. Erick said it was then transferred to Union City, Tennessee, after which she lost all ability to trace its location. The sudden disappearance of the body only deepened her suspicions, and Erick remains committed to uncovering the full truth.
“This was my son’s stolen murdered body!” she writes in a September 2025 Facebook post that shows images of the plastinated body before it was allegedly removed from the exhibit. “His body was evidence to prosecute his murder. No one in law enforcement would go secure this body for DNA and other testing. They are letting him go, for the second time.”
What would you do if you walked into an exhibit and believed you were looking at the body of a loved one? Let us know what you think and then share this story so we can get the conversation started!
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