Man pleads guilty to charges in human remains trade tied to Harvard Medical

SCRANTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania guy has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the robbery and sale of human frame portions taken from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary.

Jeremy Pauley, 41, of Thompson, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen assets, in accordance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He now faces up to 15 years in jail, nevertheless it wasn’t recognized Friday if a sentencing date has been scheduled.

Pauley admitted that he purchased human remains from a couple of folks, figuring out the remains have been stolen, and likewise admitted to promoting most of the stolen remains to others, together with no less than one one that additionally knew they’d been stolen.

Pauley used to be amongst seven folks indicted in the case in June. Trials are nonetheless pending for the opposite defendants, together with Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, who’s accused of stealing dissected parts of cadavers that have been donated to the scientific faculty in the scheme that stretched from 2018 to early 2023. The frame portions have been taken with out the college’s wisdom or permission, government have mentioned, including that the college has cooperated with the investigation.

Lodge infrequently took the frame portions — which integrated heads, brains, pores and skin and bones — again to his house whilst some remains have been despatched to patrons during the mail, government allege. Lodge additionally allegedly allowed patrons to come to the morgue to pick out what remains they sought after to purchase. Lodge’s spouse, Denise, 63, additionally faces charges in reference to the case.

Both Lodge and his spouse declined to remark at the charges all through an preliminary court docket look in June.

Bodies donated to Harvard Medical School are used for training, educating or analysis functions. Once they’re not wanted, the cadavers are typically cremated and the ashes are returned to the donor’s circle of relatives or buried in a cemetery.

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