Former Harvard Medical School morgue director Cedric Lodge has pleaded guilty to stealing dissected heads, faces, and other human remains from cadavers, then selling them for tens of thousands of dollars to buyers who sometimes personally visited the morgue to select their purchases.
Key Takeaways
- Cedric Lodge, who managed Harvard Medical School’s morgue, has pleaded guilty to stealing and selling body parts from donated cadavers between 2018 and 2020
- The stolen remains included organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, and dissected heads, which Lodge transported to his New Hampshire home for sale
- Lodge faces up to 10 years in prison for transporting stolen human remains across state lines, with transactions totaling tens of thousands of dollars
- Harvard Medical School terminated Lodge in May 2023, with Dean George Daley condemning his actions as “morally reprehensible” and a “disgraceful betrayal” of body donors
- Several co-defendants, including Lodge’s wife, have also pleaded guilty in related cases, with some already receiving approximately one year in prison
Grave Violations at Harvard Medical School
Cedric Lodge, former manager of Harvard Medical School’s morgue, has admitted to federal charges of stealing and selling human body parts from donated cadavers. Lodge’s criminal enterprise operated from 2018 to at least March 2020, during which time he exploited his position of trust to remove various human remains after they had been used for research and teaching but before their proper disposal according to donor agreements. The case represents a shocking breach of ethics at one of America’s most prestigious medical institutions, where bodies donated for scientific advancement were instead treated as merchandise.
“Cedric Lodge’s criminal actions were morally reprehensible and a disgraceful betrayal of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research,” Harvard Medical School Dean Said George Daley
The investigation revealed that Lodge removed organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, and dissected heads from the cadavers. Court documents detail how Lodge transported these remains to his home in New Hampshire, where he and his wife Denise Lodge coordinated sales to buyers across multiple states. In some particularly disturbing instances, Lodge allowed buyers to enter the morgue and personally select body parts they wished to purchase, treating the sacred space like a macabre shopping center.
A Network of Human Remains Trafficking
Federal prosecutors disclosed that Lodge didn’t act alone in this grisly business. His wife Denise actively participated in the scheme, helping to coordinate sales and shipping of the stolen human remains. The couple sold the stolen body parts to individuals in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, with transactions amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Court documents from the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania detailed how Lodge “removed human remains, including organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, dissected heads, and other parts, from donated cadavers after they had been used for research and teaching purposes but before they could be disposed of according to the anatomical gift donation agreement between the donor and the school.”
“While Lodge has agreed to plead guilty and take responsibility for his crimes, this likely provides little consolation to the families impacted,” According to Harvard Medical School.
The investigation, conducted by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and East Pennsboro Township Police Department, has already resulted in guilty pleas from several defendants in related cases. Some of these individuals have received sentences of approximately one year in prison, though Lodge’s wife Denise and another defendant, Joshua Taylor, are still awaiting sentencing. Harvard University, when contacted by Fox News Digital regarding this case, declined to provide additional comment beyond their previous statements.
Consequences and Institutional Response
Lodge now faces serious legal consequences for his actions. The maximum penalty for transporting stolen human remains across state lines is 10 years in federal prison, supervised release, and a significant fine. Harvard Medical School terminated Lodge’s employment in May 2023 upon learning of his criminal activities, emphasizing that he acted independently without the knowledge or cooperation of others at the institution. The school has characterized Lodge’s actions as an “abhorrent betrayal” and “morally reprehensible,” highlighting the severe ethical violations involved.
The case raises serious questions about oversight and security protocols at prestigious medical institutions, where donated bodies are supposed to be treated with dignity and respect. Families who donated their loved ones’ remains to advance medical science have instead discovered those remains were desecrated and sold for profit. This disturbing case highlights the need for stronger safeguards and accountability measures within anatomical donation programs nationwide, ensuring that those who make the ultimate gift to science can trust their remains will be handled with appropriate care and dignity.
