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100 brains go missing at Texas university 100 brains 'go missing' at Texas university
(about 1 hour later)
One hundred brains have gone missing from a collection stored at a Texas university, curators say.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 specimens, housed at the University of Texas, Austin, included that of mass murderer Charles Whitman, who killed 16 people in a 1966 shooting spree.
It is suspected that student pranksters were responsible for absconding with the formaldehyde-filled jars. 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.University staff have said they are "disheartened" to learn of the loss, and plan to investigate the matter.
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."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 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.
"It's entirely possible word got around among undergraduates and people started swiping them for living rooms or Halloween pranks," co-curator Lawrence Cormack said. 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 school.