Did the mother of Christopher Todd Erick discover the body of her deceased son, plastinated and on display in a Real Bodies exhibit in Las Vegas? No, that’s not true: The bodies on display in the exhibit originated in China. According to Imagine Exhibitions, owners of the Real Bodies exhibit, the specimen in question has been on continuous display in Las Vegas since 2004. Christopher Todd Erick died and was cremated in 2012.
One example of the story circulating on social media appears in a post (archived here) published on Facebook on Nov. 6, 2025 by a moderator for the group “Weird, Strange and Interesting Things”. The text on the photo reads:
A mother found her son years after his death as part of a museum exhibit. She is now fighting to bring him home
This is a screenshot of the image in the post:
Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from facebook.com/groups/319043595258667/posts/2319441705218836.
Mystery Solved — The plastinated body predates Christopher Todd Erick’s death
Lead Stories reached out for comment to Imagine Exhibitions, Inc.. The Imagine Team responded by email on Nov. 14, 2025, writing:
We extend our sympathy to the family, but there is no factual basis for these allegations. 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.
The nonexistent link to the Real Bodies display in Las Vegas
The Real Bodies exhibit (archived here) now at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas features plastinated human bodies in dynamic poses. The exhibit is a permanent attraction in Las Vegas, the property of Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. They manage additional Real Bodies exhibits which travel to cities around the world. In the FAQ section of the website it states:
Where have the bodies in the REAL BODIES come from?
The specimens in REAL BODIES are provided by Dalian Hoffen Bio-Technique Co. Ltd. The specimens are all unclaimed bodies that have been donated by the relevant authorities to medical universities in China. The specimens featured in the exhibition were donated legally, were never prisoners of any kind, showed no signs of trauma or injury, were free of infectious disease and died of natural causes.
Christopher Todd Erick was found dead On Nov. 10, 2012
Christopher Todd Erick died where he resided at his grandmother’s house in Midlothian, TX. He was found by his grandmother at 4 p.m.. The circumstances of his death are complicated by several factors, he was born with a heart defect but was a strong young man, he had been hospitalized at a psychiatric facility earlier in the year and was just in court days prior to his death. According to the medical examiner’s autopsy report, a note which could be considered a suicide note was found, but it was not known if the note was recent or from one of several past suicide attempts. The amended death certificate lists the cause of death as cyanide toxicity, with anomalous coronary artery and aortic dissection noted as underlying causes. The manner of death, be it murder or suicide, was ruled undetermined (pictured below). His body was cremated.
Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from web.archive.org/web/20210405012141/https://www.chriserick.com/Autopsy%20Report%205%20001.jpg.
Not enough evidence of foul play for a grand jury to indict
On Aug. 6, 2014 cbsnews.com published an article (archived here) titled, “Charges coming in cyanide poisoning death of Texas man?” This was followed on Aug. 8, 2014 by an article (archived here), “No indictment in cyanide poisoning death of Texas man”. The second article opens:
Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson told 48 Hours’ Crimesider that the grand jury, which was convened Wednesday, found no merit to allegations that Christopher Erick was murdered. He said a thorough investigation was done by his office and authorities and the case is now closed.
Kim Erick Smith has chronicled many of the details which make her suspect her son was murdered and why she feels the investigation was mishandled. A six page report addressed to the criminal investigation division of the Midlothian police department dated March 14, 2016, appeared on the now-defunct chriserick.com website (archived here). On page three of this 2016 report Smith made several points in regards to, and acknowledging, the cremation of her son’s body.
