Michigan cadaver’s wife pleads guilty in body parts selling case

On Monday, a woman from  Michigan, who was charged for using their medical cadaver business to sell infected body parts to medical and dental students, pleaded guilty to fraud. She confessed of telling a costumer that the human remains which tested positive for some infectious illnesses were disease-free.

According to The Whig, the woman, Elizabeth Rathburn, pleaded guilty to the said scheme. Rathburn, who is from Detroit suburb of Grosse Point Park, admitted that she was selling human-parts that were disease-free but these parts were previously diagnosed and tested positive for HIV and Hepatitis B.

Furthermore, Detroit Free Press wrote that Elizabeth Rathburn agreed to testify against her husband, Arthur, who is set to  face prison up to 20 years. The agreement led her to face our to 10 months in prison and pay the total amount of $55,000 to resolute with the American Anesthesiology Association for they rented some of the body parts from their company named International Biological Inc.

Arthur allegedly purchased the body parts in Arizona and Illinois suppliers and stored them out in an old warehouse farm near Detroit. The business proved strong as a human body would be worth $10,000 to $100,000 with records showing that body parts such as brain amounted to $600 and hands and elbow to $850.

Daily Mail added that the case is still pending until the trial will go with a verdict on July 18. Arthur Rathburn is charged with fraud and making false statements. The case is simultaneously done with their divorce.

Defense Attorney Jeremy Henner said that "She [Elizabeth] will assist the government with any knowledge that she has. Her life has been ruined largely in part because of her association with Mr. Rathburn." Arthur Rathburn has been indicted in 2012 after shipping 8 heads indicating that they're embalmed but human blood was still intact. He has plead not guilty.

Currently, Arthur Rathburn is free on bond and is living in a Detroit halfway house pending the outcome of his case. His name came up in "Body Brokers", a book written a decade ago, but not until the FBI caught his misdeeds. 

Tags

Michigan, Detroit, cadaver, body parts, selling, medical cadaver, american anesthesiology association, wire fraud, false statements

© 2023 Lawyer Herald All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.