A federal grand jury has indicted a group of individuals on conspiracy charges and interstate transport of stolen goods. The accused were not transporting expensive electronics, valuable jewelry, or drugs. Instead, they were allegedly involved in the trade of human remains.
Harvard University addressed the horrific claims in a release Wednesday about an “abhorrent betrayal” by former employees. Cedric Lodge, 55, was employed as the morgue manager at Harvard Medical School until his termination on May 6. He stands accused of transporting human remains from 2018 through August 2022. Lodge allegedly worked with a group of individuals committing heinous crimes with corpses. His wife, Denise Lodge, also has been indicted.
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Seven people were indicted on various crimes related to transporting the human remains.
The US Attorney's Office Middle District Pennsylvania released a statement Wednesday announcing charges.
"The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Cedric Lodge, age 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, Katrina Maclean, age 44, of Salem, Massachusetts, Joshua Taylor, age 46, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Denise Lodge, age 63, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, and Mathew Lampi, age 52, of East Bethel, Minnesota, were indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods charges. Additionally, Jeremy Pauley, age 41, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, was charged by Criminal Information, and Candace Chapman Scott, of Little Rock, Arkansas, was previously indicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas," the release reads.
According to the release, the charges stem from remains reportedly stolen from the medical school morgue and a morgue in Arkansas.
Lodge was reportedly the mastermind.
The US attorney's office stated Cedric Lodge stole parts of cadavers donated for use in research and education before cremation. Lodge reportedly took remains from the morgue to his home, where his wife, Denise Lodge, sold them to Maclean and Taylor, among others.
Lodge also is accused of allowing Maclean and Taylor to enter the morgue to observe cadavers before the sale. At other times, the Lodges shipped the remains.
Maclean and Taylor allegedly resold the stolen remains.
Pauley reportedly purchased the stolen remains taken from Harvard, and Scott stole them from her employer, a mortuary and crematorium in Little Rock. These allegedly included the remains of two stillborn babies who were supposed to be cremated and returned to their families.
Pauley also is accused of selling remains to Lampi, with money transfers between the pair exceeding $100,000.
"Some crimes defy understanding," US Attorney Gerard M. Karam said, per the release. "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."
Harvard echoed the outrage of the US attorney's office.
The statement from the medical school emphasized the importance of the donated cadavers to their students' education and called the individuals' actions an "abhorrent betrayal."
That statement reads in part:
"We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus — a community dedicated to healing and serving others. 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. We are so very sorry for the pain this news will cause for our anatomical donors' families and loved ones, and HMS pledges to engage with them during this deeply distressing time."
The defendants face jail time and restitution.
The US attorney's office said Lodge and his wife Denise, Maclean, Taylor, Lampi, and Pauley could face up to 15 years in prison for the charges, supervised release after prison, and a fine.
"We owe it to ourselves, our community, our profession, and our patients and their loved ones to ensure that HMS is worthy of the donors who have entrusted their bodies to us for the advancement of medical education and research," the medical school's statement added. "There is nothing more sacred and worthy of our attention and respect."
