Paula Peltonovich revealed that her father, Nicholas Pichowicz, had specified in his will that he wanted his remains donated to Harvard’s medical school upon his death in 2019.
A woman from New Hampshire has expressed her shock and outrage after discovering that her late father’s remains may have been involved in a trafficking scheme led by a disgraced morgue manager at Harvard Medical School
Upon hearing about the indictments against several individuals involved in stealing and selling body parts from the school’s morgue, Peltonovich immediately reached out to Harvard. In a conversation with the Boston Globe, she described her family’s disgust and sickness upon learning the news. Harvard Medical School, while acknowledging the potential victimhood of Pichowicz, has yet to confirm the details.
Peltonovich expressed her frustration at the lack of information due to ongoing legal proceedings. She shared her disbelief, stating, “It’s just unthinkable. There’s no words.” The former morgue manager, Cedric Lodge, was indicted alongside his alleged accomplices Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor, and Jeremy Pauley. Lodge’s wife, Denise Lodge, was also implicated for her alleged involvement in the trafficking operation. Authorities believe that Lodge stole organs and body parts from donated cadavers, storing them at his New Hampshire residence between 2018 and 2022. Some of these remains were reportedly shipped to buyers through the U.S. Postal Service.
According to the indictment, Lodge sold “dissected faces” to an individual named Maclean for $600
Lodge was terminated from his position on May 6, and Harvard Medical School released a statement titled “An abhorrent betrayal” addressing the incident. The statement expressed the school’s deep remorse for the pain caused to the families of the anatomical donors and pledged to provide support during this distressing time.
The case has prompted Peltonovich’s family to take action regarding her mother’s donated body, seeking its return from Harvard to ensure a proper burial. “We want her returned, so we can bury her,” Peltonovich said. “We don’t even want them to cremate her.” Harvard Medical School now faces scrutiny and must navigate the aftermath of this unsettling scandal.
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