By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A longtime friend of a man accused of breaking into the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner and sexually violating bodies said he had concerns about the suspect’s mental state before the arrest.
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Fenris Lu, 31, is facing felony charges after police say he broke into the medical examiner’s office and unzipped 11 body bags, abusing four of the bodies. Phoenix police reported the crime last week.
The friend, who asked not to be identified, said he has known Lu for a long time and drove to Phoenix from Washington state last week to check on him.
“It’s weird for a person just disappear. Mutual friends told me to check the news. At first, I took a pause,” this friend said.
He learned about the allegations when he could not get in touch with Lu.
“I don’t believe his motives were just to like go, satisfy himself sexually and get away with it. I strongly believe that he was in some kind of psychosis or mental illness state,” the friend said.
Background on the suspect
The friend said Lu is originally from China, where his parents live, and was previously enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Washington, where he taught other students at one point.
Lu moved to Phoenix for a relationship and took classes at Arizona State University, according to the friend.
“It was a toxic relationship and he had a hard time getting over that breakup,” the friend said.
The friend said Lu’s addiction to methamphetamine started in Seattle and followed him to Phoenix. He said the Lu he knows is not a criminal and that drugs motivated the behavior.
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“I feel really sorry for all the families that have their loved ones in that facility, and they’ve been assaulted like this but it also this could’ve been prevented if he had better help for people who struggle with addiction and illness,” the friend said.
The friend said he tried to help as Lu’s mental state declined, including hiking. Over time, Lu became someone the friend did not recognize.
“His intellect was really beautiful. You could talk to him about signs theories, and it was fun and we talked about life and anything and as much of a genius he is he’s also not right in the head for what happened to him I’m really sorry that this happened to him,” the friend said.
The friend said he knew Lu well and that this type of behavior was not something Lu ever showed interest in.
Lu is due back in court this week. Police have not said whether all of the victims’ families were contacted.
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