Wife of Former Harvard Morgue Manager Pleads Guilty to Interstate Transport of Cadavers

Denise Lodge, the wife of former Harvard morgue manager Cedric Lodge, pled guilty to the interstate transport of stolen human remains, according to a filing released Wednesday.

Cedric Lodge was charged by federal prosecutors in June for stealing human remains from the Harvard Medical School Anatomical Gift Program morgue and selling them to buyers across the country. Denise Lodge and several other individuals were also indicted for their involvement in selling and buying the stolen remains.

Under the plea agreement, Denise Lodge faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, though all other charges will be dismissed. Lodge’s attorney Hope Lefeber said Lodge pleaded guilty due to personal health issues and the possibility of a more severe charge if the case went to trial, WBUR reported Friday.

According to prosecutors, Denise Lodge mailed the human remains to buyers that Cedric Lodge began bringing to their New Hampshire home in 2018. In one instance, Denise Lodge allegedly received a payment of more than $37,000 and receipts titled “head number 7” and “braiiiiiins,” according to the June 2023 indictment.

Cedric Lodge and two alleged buyers have pleaded not guilty. It is unclear whether Denise Lodge will testify in any other ongoing cases.

The plea agreement comes after a judge dismissed a class action lawsuit against Harvard earlier this month filed by families affected by the mishandling of human remains. Harvard University, HMS, and Cedric Lodge have all been named in class action lawsuits, but Denise Lodge has thus far not been named in a suit.

Lefeber and a Harvard spokesperson declined to comment for this article.

—Staff writer Veronica H. Paulus can be reached at veronica.paulus@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @VeronicaHPaulus.

—Staff writer Akshaya Ravi can be reached at akshaya.ravi@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @akshayaravi22.