By: Yvonne Liu

“We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus — a community dedicated to healing and serving others,” Harvard deans George Daley and Edward Hundert wrote. “The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research.”

Cedric Lodge, who worked as a morgue manager, stole parts of cadavers donated to the school from 2018 to 2023. The parts were taken without the school knowing or with permission.

Lodge took brains, heads, skin and bones back to his home and some parts were sent to buyers through mail.

Lodge also supposedly let buyers come to the morgue to pick out which remains they wanted.

Harvard Medical School uses donated bodies for education or research purposes. When they are no longer in need, the cadavers are either cremated with the ashes returned to the donor’s family or buried.

Lodge was charged along with three others, Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor, and Mathew Lampi with conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.

The defendants were all part of a nationwide network of people who traded stolen remains from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary.

Federal agents raided the Lodges’ home in March of 2023 and arrested them on June 14.

George Daley and Edward Hundert said Lodge was fired on May 6.

In a message posted on the school’s website titled “An abhorrent betrayal,” deans George Daley and Edward Hundert called the matter “morally reprehensible.”