By: Iris Xu

A shocking case has emerged, revealing a scheme involving the theft and sale of human body parts from Harvard Medical School. A former manager of the school’s morgue, Cedric Lodge, along with his wife and three accomplices, have been indicted for their involvement in this unlawful activity.

The scheme, which occurred from 2018 to early 2023, involved the theft of dissected portions of cadavers that were intended for educational and research purposes.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Cedric Lodge, 55, from Goffstown, NH, secretly took the body parts from the morgue without the knowledge or permission from the school. The stolen body parts included heads, brains, skin, and bones. Some of which Lodge would bring back to his residence where he lived with his wife, Denise Lodge, 63. Additionally, Lodge supposedly facilitated the selection of desired remains by buyers who would visit the morgue or sent the stolen body parts through the mail.

In addition to Cedric and Denise Lodge, three other individuals were indicted in connection with the illegal trade of stolen body parts: Katrina Maclean, 44, from Salem, Mass.; Joshua Taylor, 46, from West Lawn, Pa.; and Mathew Lampi, 52, from East Bethel, Minn, face charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods. It remains unclear whether any of the defendants have retained legal representation or made public statements regarding the charges leveled against them.

Upon discovering the awful actions of their former employee, Harvard Medical School authorities promptly fired Lodge on May 6. George Daley and Edward Hundert, deans of Harvard Medical School, emphasized that the incidents were a grave betrayal of the altruistic individuals who had chosen to donate their bodies to further medical education and research. The school has fully cooperated with the investigation, underscoring its commitment to addressing this disturbing breach of trust.

Denise Lodge made her initial court appearance in federal court in Concord, N.H., and was released on personal recognizance bail. Cedric Lodge is scheduled to appear in court later on Wednesday.

Two other individuals had previously been charged in the case. Jeremy Pauley, 41, from Bloomsburg, Pa., allegedly bought stolen remains from Candace Chapman Scott, an employee of a mortuary in Little Rock, Ark. Scott had stolen the body parts she was supposed to have cremated, many of which had been donated for research and educational purposes. Pauley, who was said to have sold the stolen remains to Lampi and others, had exchanged significant sums of money with Lampi through online payments. Scott and Pauley have pleaded not guilty.

The indictment and legal proceedings against the former Harvard Medical School morgue manager and his associates highlight a very disturbing case of betrayal and illegal activity within the medical school. As the legal process unfolds, it is essential that justice is served, and measures are put in place to prevent such reprehensible acts from happening in the future.

Iris, stellar article!! Nice work incorporating the revisions and writing a very polished article. The only thing you could work on before publishing is reflecting upon your conclusion – what are the larger takeaways – perhaps beyond the scope of this court case – something about the larger human body part black market …