The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced that Joshua Taylor, 46, from Wernersville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to the interstate transport of stolen human remains. The plea was entered on May 15, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that Taylor admitted to purchasing stolen human remains from Harvard Medical School and transporting them from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania between 2018 and 2022. Taylor also sold these remains to others, including Jeremy Pauley, who had previously pleaded guilty to a related felony charge.
The indictment claims that Cedric Lodge, manager of the morgue for Harvard Medical School's Anatomical Gifts Program in Boston, Massachusetts, stole organs and other body parts from cadavers meant for medical research before their cremation. Lodge allegedly transported some of these remains to his home in Goffstown, New Hampshire. There, he and his wife Denise Lodge sold them to Taylor and others through phone and social media communications. On several occasions, Taylor is said to have transported the stolen remains back to Pennsylvania.
Other individuals involved have also pleaded guilty: Denise Lodge awaits sentencing; Andrew Ensanian; Matthew Lampi received a 15-month prison sentence; Angelo Pereyra was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Additionally, Candace Chapman-Scott admitted guilt in Arkansas federal court for stealing remains from an Arkansas crematorium where she worked and selling them to Pauley in Pennsylvania. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the East Pennsboro Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin is handling the prosecution.
Under federal law, this offense carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment along with supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. Sentencing will be determined by the judge after reviewing applicable federal statutes and guidelines. All accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
