Former manager of Harvard morgue charged with trafficking human remains
(TNS) — A former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue is a member of an alleged human remains trafficking ring, according to federal investigators, who have made several arrests.
“Some crimes defy understanding,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Middle District of Pennsylvania Gerard M. Karam, whose office is handling the case. “The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human.”
On Tuesday, Cedric Lodge, 55, the former manager of the school’s morgue, his wife, Denise Lodge, 63, both of Goffstown, New Hampshire; as well as Katrina MacLean, 44, of Salem; Joshua Taylor, 46, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and Mathew Lampi, 52, of East Bethel, Minnesota, were indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods charges. This followed charges against Jeremy Pauley, 41, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and Candace Chapman Scott, of Little Rock, Arkansas.
The alleged ring operated from sometime in 2018 and until March 7, 2023, according to the grand jury indictment, would sell human remains stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue and an Arkansas mortuary. Cedric Lodge worked in the HMS morgue as part of the Anatomical Gift Program until he was terminated on May 6. The U.S. Attorney’s office said Harvard helped in the investigation.
