Harvard Reaches $53M Settlement In Body Parts Scandal As Buyer Is Sentenced

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement stemming from the theft and sale of human remains from its medical school morgue, while a Massachusetts woman was sentenced to two years in federal prison for trafficking the stolen remains.

The proposed settlement would establish two class-action funds totaling $53 million to resolve lawsuits filed against Harvard in connection with the scandal.

Harvard and the plaintiffs asked the court Monday to approve the settlement agreement, according to Harvard Medical School.

The agreement comes more than three years after federal prosecutors announced charges against Cedric Lodge, the former manager of the morgue for Harvard Medical School's Anatomical Gift Program.

Lodge stole organs and other parts of cadavers donated for medical research and education between 2018 and 2022 before their scheduled cremations, according to federal prosecutors.

Katrina Maclean, 47, of Haverhill, was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in federal prison for interstate transportation of stolen property, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced.

Maclean admitted to buying and selling human remains, including remains stolen from Harvard Medical School.

Lodge sometimes transported stolen remains from Boston to his home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, where he and his wife, Denise Lodge, sold them to Maclean, Joshua Taylor and others.

Prosecutors said Lodge also allowed Maclean and Taylor to enter the Harvard Medical School morgue to examine cadavers and choose what they wanted to purchase.

Maclean and Taylor later sold stolen remains for profit, including to Jeremy Pauley in Pennsylvania, prosecutors said.

Maclean pleaded guilty in December to interstate transportation of stolen property.

Cedric Lodge was sentenced to eight years in federal prison in December after pleading guilty to transporting stolen goods across state lines. Denise Lodge was sentenced to one year in prison. Seven other defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison in related cases.

Harvard said a third-party settlement administrator will notify potential class members and establish a website with information about eligibility and submitting claims if the settlement receives court approval.

Harvard said it has made changes to the Anatomical Gift Program since Lodge's conduct was discovered, including changes involving oversight, policies, and security.

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