Phoenix Hospital Security Guard Charged With Engaging In Sexual Activity With Woman’s Body

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Banner Health recently released information that a security guard at one of their Phoenix hospitals had their employment terminated after being accused of engaging in sexual activities with a deceased woman in the morgue.

The incident allegedly happened in October at the Banner University Medical Center, near the corner of 12th Street and McDowell Road.

According to police reports, Randall Bird, aged 46, was discovered inside a freezer, behind the morgue doors, lying on a gurney with the corpse of a 79-year-old female.

Law enforcement officials reported that an elderly female victim, who had died from natural causes, was taken to the morgue at around 4:36 a.m. on Oct. 22, and Bird was left alone with the corpse after the person transporting the body left the morgue.

Two other security guards went to the morgue for intake duties about an hour after Bird arrived there. When these two individuals unlocked the entrance, they discovered the freezer door was slightly ajar and they saw [Bird] inside the freezer. He was sweating profusely and appeared to be very nervous. They mentioned that [Bird] had removed his belt, which was lying on top of a gurney where a body was in a bag. Witnessed noticed that the victim’s body bag was unzipped, and the victim was facing down.  The witnesses shared with officers that bodies are never placed facing down, and they never unzip the body bags.

They were deeply concerned due to the abnormalities, and they reported the incident to their supervisor. An internal investigation was initiated, and police were contacted.

According to law enforcement, security guards are responsible for transporting bodies to the morgues and freezers, yet they are not allowed to open the body bags.

Bird informed authorities that he had endured a medical incident and clung to the body, which he mistakenly said was “damaged.” Following that, Bird asserted that he had no recollection of what occurred after the medical episode.

A search warrant was executed, including DNA samples collected from the suspect, which linked Bird to the crime. Bird was arrested on the morning of Nov. 28 in Phoenix. Bird is being accused of five counts of Crimes Against Dead Person, which is a Class 4 Felony in Arizona. A Maricopa County judge has set a $10,000 Secured Appearance Bond for Bird, and should he make bond, he will be subjected to a number of restrictions. A preliminary hearing is set for the morning of Dec. 7.

Banner Health released the following statement regarding the incident:

“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.

Recently, Banner team members identified and reported concerning behavior of an employee in the hospital morgue. Banner initiated an internal investigation, filed a report with law enforcement and terminated the employee.

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.  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.

Out of respect for the family, we will not further comment at this time.”