A Texas mother, Kim Erick, is challenging a Las Vegas museum after becoming convinced that one of its plastinated bodies belongs to her late son, Chris Todd Erick. Her claim — which the museum denies — has resurfaced online, reviving her years-long struggle for closure.

Chris died in 2012 at age 23 in his grandmother’s home. Police said he suffered “two heart attacks” caused by an undiagnosed heart issue, and his family arranged for cremation. Kim received a necklace said to contain “some of his ashes.” But when she later saw police photos, she believed bruises and marks showed “signs of restraint.” A 2014 homicide investigation found no evidence of foul play.

In 2018, Kim visited the Real Bodies exhibit and became fixated on a seated, skinned figure called “The Thinker.” She thought it matched a skull fracture in Chris’s medical records and that the area where his tattoo had been was removed. She became convinced: “The Thinker” was her son.

Kim demanded DNA testing, but organizers refused, saying the body was legally sourced in China and had been displayed “since 2004,” long before Chris’s death. Archive photos and the lengthy plastination process also contradicted her theory.

When “The Thinker” was later removed from display, Kim saw it as suspicious and said the disappearance felt “alarming.” The discovery of unidentified cremated remains in Nevada in 2023 renewed her fears, though museum officials maintain documented evidence disproves her claims. Still, Kim continues her search, driven by grief and determination.