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Baitball Blogger

(46,756 posts) Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:36 PM Sep 2012

Ex-medical examiner charged after human organs found in storage unit

PENSACOLA, Florida — A former medical examiner has been arrested on charges of keeping human remains in a rented storage unit in the Florida Panhandle.

Dr. Michael Berkland was arrested Friday on charges of improper storage of hazardous waste, keeping a public nuisance and driving with a suspended license. He was released from jail on $10,000 bail.

snip

More than 100 crudely preserved brains, hearts and lungs were discovered in a Pensacola storage unit last month. Authorities say the organs were kept in soda cups and plastic food containers.

The director of the medical examiner's office in Pensacola says about 10 families have been notified that their relatives' remains were in the unit. Berkland worked at the medical examiner's office from 1997 to 2003.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-08/news/os-human-organs-storage-unit-florida-20120908_1_human-organs-storage-unit-medical-examiner

5 replies

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Ex-medical examiner charged after human organs found in storage unit (Original Post) Baitball Blogger Sep 2012 OP

OK, that's seriously weird. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #1

Interesting. Unless he was just a flat out psycho, I'm guessing he was selling these. Mayberry Machiavelli Sep 2012 #2

Full on psycho gets my vote etherealtruth Sep 2012 #5

Fucking FLORIDA. Damn, what is up with that government? MADem Sep 2012 #3

There are two qualities that most employees need to survive our governments. Baitball Blogger Sep 2012 #4

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,829 posts)

1. OK, that's seriously weird.

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:40 PM

Sep 2012

What was he planning to do with them? Or maybe we don't want to know.

Mayberry Machiavelli

(21,096 posts)

2. Interesting. Unless he was just a flat out psycho, I'm guessing he was selling these.

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:42 PM

Sep 2012

Now the question is, to who? Used to be medical schools would buy parts from grave robbers.

etherealtruth

(22,165 posts)

5. Full on psycho gets my vote

Reply to Mayberry Machiavelli (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 03:07 PM

Sep 2012

The article reports that the organs were crudely preserved .... this would render them useless for any legitimate purpose.

All I can say is : ICK

MADem

(135,425 posts)

3. Fucking FLORIDA. Damn, what is up with that government?

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:42 PM

Sep 2012

They hire halfassed people to do shitty jobs, and then wonder why no one has any faith in their government?

I swear, there's more organization and accountability in a tribal government in Afghanistan. And that's not saying anything!

Baitball Blogger

(46,756 posts)

4. There are two qualities that most employees need to survive our governments.

Reply to MADem (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 8, 2012, 02:47 PM

Sep 2012

Loyalty and someone who isn't too vigilant about his work.

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