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100 brains 'go missing' at Texas university 'Missing' brains at Texas university were destroyed
(about 2 hours later)
One hundred brains have gone missing from a collection stored at a Texas university, curators say. Most of the 100 brains reported missing from a collection stored at a Texas university were destroyed by health officials in 2002.
The specimens, housed at the University of Texas, Austin, included that of mass murderer Charles Whitman, who killed 16 people in a 1966 shooting spree. The specimens, housed at the University of Texas, Austin, were disposed of, not stolen as previously thought, the university said in a statment.
The formaldehyde-filled jars may at one time have been sent to another Texas university, US media report. Initially they were said to include sniper Charles Whitman's brain and students were blamed for the "theft".
University staff have said they are "disheartened" to learn of the loss, and plan to investigate the matter. But the formaldehyde-filled jars were actually disposed of some time ago.
They were in poor condition and not suitable for research, officials said.
"We believe the workers disposed of between 40 and 60 jars, some of which contained multiple human brains, and worked with a biological waste contractor to do so safely," according to a university statement.
"We have no evidence at this time that any of the brain specimens came from Charles Whitman, though we will continue to investigate those reports."
Charles WhitmanCharles Whitman
"We think somebody may have taken the brains, but we don't know at all for sure," Tim Schallert, psychology professor and co-curator of the collection, told the Austin American-Statesman. Tim Schallert, psychology professor and co-curator of the collection, initially told the Austin American-Statesman "we think somebody may have taken the brains, but we don't know at all for sure".
The specimens were among a batch sent from the Austin State Hospital to the university nearly 30 years ago for safe keeping.The specimens were among a batch sent from the Austin State Hospital to the university nearly 30 years ago for safe keeping.
The university's agreement with the hospital required the removal of any data identifying the brain's original owner.The university's agreement with the hospital required the removal of any data identifying the brain's original owner.
Kept in the school's basement, the brains went missing sometime in the intervening years.Kept in the school's basement, the brains went missing sometime in the intervening years.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported the brains had been located at the University of Texas, San Antonio. Following the mix-up, the university pledged to appoint a broader investigative committee to examine the matter.
When contacted by the BBC, Mr Schallert said it was as yet unclear whether the brains had been sent to another Texas school. "As researchers and teachers, we understand the potential scientific value of all of our holdings and take our roles as stewards of them very seriously," the university statement concluded.