Harvard Loses Federal Funds for Research Grants

Amber Duke, a fellow from the Steamboat Institute, shared her thoughts on “Fox & Friends First” regarding the loss of federal grant funds by Harvard and the agency’s response to this action.

Recently, a former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue wrapped up a petition regarding an alleged scheme to steal and sell donated body parts.

Cedric Lodge, 57, from Goffstown, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to transporting stolen human remains before US District Judge Matthew W. Blanc this past Wednesday, as stated in a release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Pennsylvania.

The harshest penalty under federal law could be a 10-year prison sentence, along with supervised release and a monetary fine. The judge will determine the exact sentence after reviewing the relevant federal sentencing guidelines.

From 2018 to March 2020, Lodge engaged in unlawfully selling and transporting human remains stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue, according to officials.

As the morgue’s manager, he removed various body parts—organs, skin, brains, and dissected heads—without the consent of his employer or the families of the donors.

After taking these remains to his home in New Hampshire, he would then sell them for profit, transporting them to different states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

George Daly, President of Harvard Medical School, condemned Lodge’s actions, stating that they were an “immoral betrayal” of the individuals who had altruistically donated their bodies to the school’s anatomical program. The impact on the families of these donors has been significant, deeply affecting their trust and expectations.

It’s worth noting that the investigation involved the FBI and other agencies. A number of individuals linked to this case have already pleaded guilty, receiving prison sentences of around a year.

Lodge’s co-defendants, Dennis Lodge and Joshua Taylor, are still awaiting their sentences. Harvard University has yet to provide a comment on this development.