Members of a criminal gang who stole human organs from the morgue of Harvard Medical School in Boston and traded them have been indicted, NBC News reports. According to the publication, among the defendants are 55-year-old morgue manager Cedric Lodge and his 63-year-old wife Denise Lodge. Also charged are Salem resident Katrina McLean and Joshua Taylor of West Lawn.
“At times, Cedric Lodge allowed McLean and Taylor to go into the Harvard Medical School morgue and examine cadavers to pick out what to buy. In some cases, Taylor transported the stolen remains back to Pennsylvania. In other cases, the Lodges transported the stolen remains to Taylor and others out of state,” the report said.”
It is noted that the accused couple contacted buyers through websites and cell phones. The 15-page indictment does not provide details on what the body parts were purchased for. It is known that in addition to internal organs, heads, brains, skin and bones were also sold.
“The reported incidents are a betrayal to the institution and, most importantly, to each of those who altruistically chose to donate their bodies through the anatomical gift program to advance medical education and research,” the medical school said in a statement.”
