A former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School has confessed to stealing and selling human remains—including brains, skin, hands, and faces—from cadavers donated for scientific study.
Cedric Lodge, 57, admitted in a Pennsylvania court to transporting stolen human remains across state lines, according to Acting US Attorney John Gurganus. Between 2018 and early 2020, Lodge turned Harvard’s Anatomical Gift Program into a macabre black market, violating the trust of those who donated their bodies for education and research.
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Thousands Earned from Stolen Cadavers
Prosecutors said Lodge, who oversaw Harvard’s morgue operations, systematically removed dissected parts from cadavers meant for medical study and sold them for thousands of dollars.
“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,”
— Dr George Q Daley, Dean of Harvard Medical School
Investigators found that Lodge and his wife Denise transported the remains from Harvard’s Boston morgue to their home in New Hampshire. They then shipped the body parts to buyers across state lines or allowed in-person pickups. The sales took place through social media and the US Postal Service, with transactions involving buyers in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and other states.
Disturbing Deals and Buyers
Court documents revealed that Lodge operated within a broader network of individuals involved in the illicit trade. Many co-defendants have already pleaded guilty. In one disturbing case, a buyer paid $1,000 for a “head number 7,” while another sent $200 for “braiiiiiins.” The Lodges received over $37,000 from one buyer alone.
Authorities also found that Lodge gave buyers, including Katrina Maclean of Kat’s Creepy Creations in Massachusetts, access to the morgue to handpick body parts. In 2020, Maclean reportedly paid $600 for two dissected faces. Her defense lawyer argued that human remains don’t qualify as property or merchandise, but prosecutors maintained their stance.
Shockwaves Across the Harvard Community
The revelations have deeply shaken the Harvard community.
“We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus — a community dedicated to healing and serving others,”
— George Daley and Edward Hundert, Dean for Medical Education
Lodge’s plea deal spares him a conspiracy charge but could still result in up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
