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Harvard lawsuit overview:
- Who: Former Harvard morgue manager Cedric Lodge and three other reported co-conspirators have been indicted.
- Why: Lodge reportedly stole and sold human remains from the Harvard morgue without the medical school’s knowledge or consent.
- Where: The indictment was filed in Pennsylvania federal court.
The manager of Harvard Medical School’s morgue has been accused of allegedly stealing and selling body parts that were donated for use in research and training, according to an indictment in a federal lawsuit. The indictment was unsealed June 13.
Cedric Lodge allegedly abused his position as the Harvard morgue manager and engaged in a conspiracy to steal and sell dissected portions of donated cadavers since 2018 without the knowledge or permission of Harvard Medical School.
According to the federal indictment, Lodge transported human heads, brains, skin, bones and other human remains from the Harvard morgue to his New Hampshire residence.
Harvard indictment names three other co-conspirators in theft, sale of human remains
His wife, Denise Lodge, is also named as a co-conspirator for collecting payment and shipping body parts to purchasers. She also reportedly offered the body parts for sale through social media and text messages.
Katrina Maclean and Joshua Taylor are also named in the indictment for their reported participation in the unlawful sale of human remains. Maclean reportedly owned a store called Kat’s Creepy Creations and sold and shipped stolen human remains to buyers in multiple states. Cedric Lodge allegedly allowed Maclean to visit the Harvard morgue to select body parts.
Taylor also purchased stolen human remains and sold and shipped them to buyers, according to the indictment. Between September 2018 and July 2021, Taylor reportedly transferred 39 electronic payments to Denise Lodge’s PayPal account — a total of nearly $38,000 in payments for human remains stolen by Cedric Lodge.
The indictment charges Maclean, Taylor and the Lodges with conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.
Harvard morgue manager’s actions are ‘morally reprehensible,’ Harvard deans say
On June 14, the dean of Harvard Medical School and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine expressed “profound sadness and distress” over Cedric Lodge’s “morally reprehensible” activities and noted Lodge’s employment was terminated May 6.
In their news release, the deans said they are examining their records and working with federal authorities to determine which anatomical donors may have been affected. Harvard has also established a website with further resources and a toll-free number for information and support for affected family members.
Harvard has faced other legal action in the past.
Last year, Harvard was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging its website is inaccessible to visually impaired and blind individuals.
What do you think about the accusations against the Harvard morgue manager? Tell us about it in the comments.
The United States is represented by Sean A. Camoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Harvard morgue lawsuit is United States of America v. Cedric Lodge, et al., Case No. 4:23-cr-00159, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
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