Harvard University to Pay $53 Million Settlement in Morgue Scandal
Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement after a former morgue manager was found guilty of stealing and selling body parts. The court approved this plan recently, aiming to address the wrongdoing and support affected families.
Cedric Lodge, the ex-manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue, was sentenced to eight years in prison in December. He admitted to trafficking stolen human remains, a crime he committed without the knowledge or consent of the university, donors, or their families. Since 2018, Lodge and his wife, Denise, unlawfully removed body parts and shipped them to buyers across different states.
Harvard University has taken steps to establish two class action settlement funds, totaling $53 million, to aid the donor families. In a statement, Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley and Bernard Chang, dean for medical education, expressed their focus on prioritizing support for impacted families and the organ donation program, while avoiding lengthy legal battles. They described Lodge’s actions as a gross violation of the university’s values.
The Harvard Crimson reported preliminary approval of the settlement plan. The fund distribution is expected to take several months. Denise Lodge received a year-long prison sentence. Six other individuals, involved as co-conspirators, also pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
The conspiracy involved Cedric and Denise Lodge, along with others such as Katrina MacLean and Joshua Taylor. Court documents accuse them and another participant, Jeremy Pauley, of selling human remains for profit. Pauley was charged in 2022 for his involvement in purchasing and selling body parts. MacLean operated a store in Salem, Massachusetts, known as Kat’s Creepy Creations, where she stored and sold remains. The store promoted their inventory on Instagram, attracting buyers interested in human bones.
Harvard Medical School plans to launch an annual scholarship in the 2027-28 academic year. This scholarship will honor all anatomical donors. The school also committed to providing a formal statement to the affected families, condemning Lodge’s actions and explaining improvements made to the organ donation program.