Former Harvard Morgue Manager Admits to Selling Stolen Human Remains Across State Lines

A former manager at Harvard Medical School’s morgue has pleaded guilty to transporting stolen human remains across state lines, revealing a disturbing network of black-market body part sales that spanned multiple states and involved numerous individuals. Cedric Lodge, 57, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, entered the plea before Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Lodge admitted to removing body parts from cadavers at Harvard Medical School between 2018 and March 2020. The remains, which included dissected heads, brains, skin, and other organs, had been donated for research and education purposes. Instead of being disposed of as agreed upon by donors and the school, the parts were illicitly taken and transported to New Hampshire. There, Lodge and his wife Denise sold them directly to buyers or shipped them to other states, including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Authorities stated that Lodge sold body parts to multiple individuals, including Joshua Taylor and Andrew Ensanian. Many of the purchased remains were then resold for profit. Jeremy Pauley, a known buyer, had previously pleaded guilty to related charges. The network extended beyond Lodge’s circle, involving Candace Chapman-Scott of Arkansas, who stole remains from a crematorium and supplied them to Pauley. She was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Several individuals have been prosecuted in connection to the scheme. Matthew Lampi and Angelo Pereyra received sentences of 15 and 18 months, respectively. Denise Lodge and Joshua Taylor have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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