A former Harvard Medical School staffer was one of six people indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing organs from donated cadavers – including skin used to make human leather.
New Hampshire resident Cedric Lodge, 55, was the manager of the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. He allegedly “stole organs and other parts of cadavers donated for medical research and education before their scheduled cremations,” starting in 2018, according to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam.
Court documents allege that Lodge transported stolen remains to his residence and that his wife, Denise Lodge, 63, sold the remains to Katrina Maclean, 44, of Salem, Mass. CNN reported that McLean owned a store called “Kat’s Creepy Creations” in Peabody, Mass., where she sold body parts to others.
“Maclean is also accused of selling stolen body parts to other buyers in multiple states, including allegedly selling human skin to a Pennsylvania man who tanned it to create leather, the indictment stated,” said the outlet.
Additionally, Denise Lodge is accused of selling the stolen organs to Joshua Taylor, 46, of West Lawn, Pa. According to the Justice Department, Lodge at times allowed McLean and Taylor to enter the Harvard Medical School morgue to examine and choose cadavers for purchase. Other times arrangements were made online or through social media websites.
“We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus – a community dedicated to healing and serving others,” said a Thursday statement from George Q. Dale, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Edward M. Hundert, dean for Medical Education. “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.”
Maclean and Taylor also resold the stolen remains for profit, said the DOJ. Jeremy Pauley, 41, of Bloomsburg, Pa., purchased these stolen organs from them. He also purchased human remains from Candace Chapman Scott, 36, who stole remains from her employer, a Little Rock, Arkansas mortuary and crematorium. Audacy reported on Scott’s indictment last month.
“Scott stole parts of cadavers she was supposed to have cremated, many of which had been donated to and used for research and educational purposes by an area medical school, as well as the corpses of two stillborn babies who were supposed to be cremated and returned as cremains to their families,” said the DOJ.
After purchasing organs from Scott, Pauley also sold many of the stolen remains he purchased to others, including Matthew Lampi, 52, of East Bethel, Minn. Pauley and Lampi exchanged more than $100,000 in online payments, said authorities.
“Some crimes defy understanding,” said United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. It is particularly egregious that so many of the victims here volunteered to allow their remains to be used to educate medical professionals and advance the interests of science and healing.
For them and their families to be taken advantage of in the name of profit is appalling. With these charges, we are seeking to secure some measure of justice for all these victims.”
Cedric Lodge, Denise Lodge, Maclean, Taylor and Lampi, were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods charges. Pauley was charged by Criminal Information.
They face 15 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine.
“The United States Attorney’s Office has and will continue to attempt to identify and contact as many of the victims and victims’ families affected by this case as possible,” said the DOJ. “If anyone believes they or a family member may have been affected by the conduct charged in these indictments and information, please contact our Victim and Witness Unit at usapam-victim.information@usdoj.gov or (717) 614-4249.”
The DOJ noted that all persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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