Kentucky man allegedly linked to Harvard stolen physique components case as one other lawsuit is filed

Crime

FBI brokers looking out James Nott’s condominium allegedly discovered dozens of human skulls and bones, in addition to a Harvard Medical College bag.

Upon arriving at James Nott’s condominium Tuesday to execute a search warrant, FBI brokers requested the Kentucky man if anybody else was dwelling. 

“Solely my lifeless mates,” Nott allegedly responded. 

Inside, federal investigators say they discovered about 40 human skulls, spinal cords, femurs, and hip bones strewn about. 

“The skulls had been embellished across the furnishings,” one FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed in federal court docket this week. “One cranium had a head scarf round it. One cranium was positioned on the mattress the place Nott slept.”

Additionally discovered inside the house: A Harvard Medical College bag. 

In response to court docket paperwork, the 40-year-old Nott — who was arrested and charged this week on unrelated firearms fees — could also be linked to a nationwide scheme to purchase and promote human physique components, some allegedly stolen from Harvard Medical College’s morgue. 

Nott’s alleged ties to the Harvard physique components case

The previous morgue supervisor, Cedric Lodge, and his spouse, Denise, are accused of stealing physique components and promoting them to individuals throughout the nation. The Lodges and a few of their alleged prospects had been charged final month out of a federal court docket in Pennsylvania. 

Amongst these charged was Jeremy Pauley, a Pennsylvania man who allegedly purchased, bought, and shipped numerous human stays throughout state traces.

In response to court docket paperwork, investigators discovered Fb communications between Pauley and Nott, who glided by the identify “William Burke.” The username was an obvious nod to a nineteenth century Edinburgh serial killer who — alongside together with his accomplice, William Hare — bought victims’ our bodies to College of Edinburgh anatomy lecturer Dr. Robert Knox.  

Over Fb, Pauley and Nott allegedly mentioned the sale and cargo of human stays. The affidavit contains two footage of human skulls that Nott allegedly posted on the market on his Fb web page. 

Nott has not been charged with any crimes associated to the human stays. 

One other member of the family sues over physique half theft

Along with the continuing felony instances, the Harvard morgue scandal has additionally sparked a number of civil lawsuits towards the school and Cedric Lodge, with the households of a number of individuals who donated their our bodies to Harvard taking their grievances to court docket. 

The newest lawsuit comes from Anne Weiss, a South Deerfield, Massachusetts, lady whose father, Dr. William Buchanan, donated his physique to Harvard Medical College upon his demise in 2018.

Weiss filed her criticism in Suffolk Superior Courtroom Thursday, alleging intentional infliction of emotional misery, negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, and interference with a corpse.

The lawsuit alleges that Harvard knew that Cedric Lodge drove to work in a automotive with a “Grim-R” license plate and had a penchant for “macabre hobbies,” but “did not supervise and monitor their worker and failed to determine and or implement primary precautions that might have prevented the institution and operation of a physique components bazaar inside their facility.”