TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man who ran an autopsies-for-hire business was indicted today on federal fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. In addition to criminal penalties, the indictment seeks to recover more than $1 million in fees paid by the defendant’s clients. Victims are encouraged to email[email protected]or call 316-660-6439.
Shawn Lynn Parcells,41, Leawood, Kan., is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges Parcells falsely led clients to believe they would receive an autopsy report prepared by a pathologist. In fact, in most of the cases, no pathologist was involved in the work on the autopsies. Parcells was not a physician and not a pathologist. He worked from 1996 to 2003 as a pathologist’s assistant with the Jackson County, Mo., Medical Examiner’s Office.
Parcells offered private autopsy services through his business, National Autopsy Services, based in Topeka. Clients generally paid a basic fee of $3,000 plus expenses up front for a full pathological study and diagnosis as the cause of a death of a family member.
The indictment alleges that from May 11, 2016, to May 5, 2019, Parcells obtained fees from at least 375 clients for a total amount of more than $1.1 million, but failed to provide a completed report in the majority of cases.
If convicted, Parcells could face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI and the Kansas Attorney General’s office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.