“I was in the office, and I heard someone banging on the window trying to get in, and I ran,” an employee told a 911 operator as a break-in unfolded at the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. That terrifying emergency call captured the moments a stranger breached a basement facility where human remains are housed, setting off a swift police response and a deeply disturbing criminal case.
Inside the Morgue Break-In and the 911 Response
The incident, detailed in emergency audio obtained by AZ Family, occurred in May at the county morgue in Phoenix. Two employees working near the basement storage area placed separate 911 calls lasting just over a minute each as the intruder forced his way inside.
According to police statements and the emergency recordings, 31-year-old Fenris Lu used a crowbar to smash out a basement window. Once inside the storage facility, investigators say Lu broke the seal on 11 body bags and committed sexual acts with four of them.
Employees quickly realized the danger and fled to an upper floor for safety. “They’re down in the basement,” the first caller told the emergency dispatcher while running upstairs. “I don’t know how they got in. They were cracking the window.”
A second worker placed a concurrent call from the building. “Someone is banging downstairs in our special procedures room,” that employee reported. When the dispatcher asked for a description, the caller confirmed, “No, I didn’t see anyone. All I see is this window is very cracked.”
Police Arrest Lu on Felony Charges
Law enforcement officers arrived quickly and arrested Lu at the scene. He is currently facing several felony charges and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Police have not yet released a definitive motive for the breach. However, AZ Family spoke with a close friend of Lu in May who noted that he had struggled with mental health issues and drug abuse prior to the arrest.
