Cedric Lodge, 58, and Wife Denise Lodge, 65, Sentenced for Interstate Transport of Stolen Human Remains

SCRANTON – In a shocking case of exploitation and greed, Cedric Lodge, the former manager of Harvard Medical School morgue, and his wife Denise Lodge, have been sentenced for their role in the interstate transport of stolen human remains.

According to the investigation, Cedric Lodge, who was employed as the manager of the Harvard Medical School Morgue in Boston, Massachusetts, removed human remains, including organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, dissected heads, and other parts, from donated cadavers after they had been used for research and teaching purposes but before they could be disposed of according to the anatomical gift donation agreement between the donor and the school.

Lodge took the remains without the knowledge or permission of his employer, the donor, or the donor’s family, and transported the remains to his home in New Hampshire. The remains were then sold to various buyers, including Joshua Taylor and Andrew Ensanian, who resold them for a profit.

Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann sentenced Cedric Lodge to 96 months in prison, while his wife Denise Lodge received a sentence of 12 months and a day in prison.

“The trafficking of stolen human remains through the US Mail is a disturbing act that victimizes already grieving families while also creating a potentially hazardous situation for Postal employees and customers,” said Christopher Nielsen, the Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the Postal Inspection Service.

“Today’s sentencing is another step forward in ensuring those who orchestrated and executed this heinous crime are brought to justice” said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the East Pennsboro Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin is prosecuting the case.

As part of the investigation, several other defendants have previously entered guilty pleas in related cases, including Joshua Taylor, Andrew Ensanian, Matthew Lampi, Katrina Maclean and Angelo Pereyra.

Lampi was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Pereyra was sentenced to 18 months. Joshua Taylor is awaiting sentencing.

Candace Chapman-Scott, who stole remains from an Arkansas crematorium where she was employed and sold them to Pauley in Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty in Arkansas federal court and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

White Collar Crime

Castellanos Tabora, Money Laundering, Florida 2015

Jan 15, 2015

White Collar Crime

Del Rosario, Securities Fraud, New York 2021

Jan 15, 2021

White Collar Crime

Jonathan Gottfried, Securities Fraud, New York 2000

Jan 15, 2000

White Collar Crime

Jonathan Ly, Insider Trading, Washington 2023

Apr 25, 2017