by SCRANTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to trafficking stolen human remains connected to a larger national case involving Harvard Medical School.
Joshua Taylor, 46, of Wernersville, admitted to transporting stolen body parts across state lines and selling them, marking another conviction in the disturbing multi-state scheme.
What Happened
Joshua Taylor appeared in federal court on May 15 and pled guilty to interstate transport of stolen human remains.
The charges stem from an investigation into a trafficking ring that sourced human body parts from cadavers donated to Harvard Medical School.
The remains were stolen by the school’s former morgue manager and distributed to multiple individuals across various states.
Key Details
From 2018 to 2022, Taylor knowingly purchased human remains that had been stolen from Harvard’s Anatomical Gifts Program.
He transported these remains from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania and later resold them to others.
One of Taylor’s buyers was Jeremy Pauley, another defendant who previously pled guilty in the same federal case.
The remains were originally taken by Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager at Harvard, who reportedly removed organs and body parts from cadavers before they were cremated.
Lodge allegedly transported some of the stolen remains to his home in New Hampshire, where he and his wife Denise Lodge arranged sales through mobile phones and social media platforms.
Reactions or Statements
Federal authorities have not issued additional public comments regarding Taylor’s plea.
However, prosecutors have emphasized the seriousness of trafficking donated body parts intended for medical education.
Other individuals involved have already been sentenced, signaling continued legal consequences in the case.
Investigation or What’s Next
Several co-defendants have pled guilty, including:
- Denise Lodge (awaiting sentencing)
- Andrew Ensanian
- Matthew Lampi (sentenced to 15 months)
- Angelo Pereyra (sentenced to 18 months)
In a related case, Candace Chapman-Scott, who stole human remains from an Arkansas crematorium and sold them to Pauley, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Joshua Taylor faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, supervised release, and a fine under federal law.
FAQs
Who is Joshua Taylor?
He is a 46-year-old man from Wernersville, PA, who admitted to trafficking stolen human remains.
Where did the stolen body parts come from?
They were originally taken from Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gifts Program by morgue manager Cedric Lodge.
How were the remains transported?
Taylor moved stolen body parts from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania and resold them.
Who else has been convicted?
Several defendants, including Jeremy Pauley, Denise Lodge, and others, have pled guilty and received various sentences.
What penalties could Taylor face?
He could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, along with fines and supervised release.
Summary / Final Takeaway
Joshua Taylor’s guilty plea adds another chapter to the unsettling national case involving the trafficking of stolen human remains from Harvard Medical School.
With multiple convictions already secured and others pending sentencing, federal authorities continue to pursue justice for the misuse of bodies donated to science.
