{
  "id": 1906674,
  "title": "Harvard to pay $53m after morgue manager sold body parts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/harvard-to-pay-53m-after-morgue-manager-sold-body-parts",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T09:41:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/us/2026/0819/1588488-harvard-morgue-manager/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Harvard University has reached a $53 million (€45m) settlement following the theft and sale of body parts by its former morgue manager, Cedric Lodge. The settlement was approved by a Boston court, with Lodge sentenced to eight years in prison for his crimes. Lodge and his wife allegedly obtained body parts without permission from the school, donors, or their families, shipping them to buyers across the country since 2018.\n\nHarvard stated that they will seek court permission to establish two class action settlement funds totaling $53 million. In a letter co-signed by Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley and Bernard Chang, they expressed gratitude for working together to prioritize donor families and the organ donation program, avoiding prolonged litigation. They reaffirmed their deep sorrow and empathy for the affected families.\n\nThe court granted preliminary approval to the settlement plan, with Harvard estimating the distribution process to take several months. Lodge's wife, Denise, received a one-year prison sentence, and six other co-conspirators who purchased remains from Lodge have also pleaded guilty and received sentences.\n\nAs part of the settlement, Harvard Medical School plans to create an annual financial aid scholarship starting in the 2027-28 academic year, honoring all anatomical donors. The school also pledged to provide a statement condemning Lodge's criminal acts and detail improvements to the organ donation program.",
  "summary": "Harvard University has agreed to pay a $53 million (€45m) settlement after its former morgue manager stole and sold body parts donated for scientific research, with a Boston court reportedly approving the plan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Harvard agrees to pay millions after morgue manager sold body parts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/harvard-agrees-to-pay-millions-after-morgue-manager-sold-body-parts-1857956",
        "published": "2026-08-19T03:27:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Harvard to pay $53 million after morgue manager sold body parts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/harvard-to-pay-53-million-after-morgue-manager-sold-body-parts",
        "published": "2026-08-19T10:58:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}