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100 brains 'go missing' at Texas university
The brains were preserved in jars, like these ones on display in London
One hundred brains have gone missing from a collection stored at a Texas university, curators say.
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 formaldehyde-filled jars may at one time have been sent to another Texas university, US media report.
University staff have said they are "disheartened" to learn of the loss, and plan to investigate the matter.
Charles 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.
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.
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.
When contacted by the BBC, Mr Schallert said it was as yet unclear whether the brains had been sent to another Texas schoo
100 brains 'go missing' at Texas university
The brains were preserved in jars, like these ones on display in LondonOne hundred brains have gone missing from a collection stored at a Texas university, curators say.
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 formaldehyde-filled jars may at one time have been sent to another Texas university, US media report.
University staff have said they are "disheartened" to learn of the loss, and plan to investigate the matter.
Charles Whitman
- The former Marine killed 16 people and wounded 30 at the University of Texas
- He killed his mother and wife before climbing atop a tower and shooting people below
- He was killed by police who stormed the tower
- A small tumour was discovered in his brain post-mortem
"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.
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.
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.
When contacted by the BBC, Mr Schallert said it was as yet unclear whether the brains had been sent to another Texas schoo
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