Philadelphia police are investigating the origin of a package containing two preserved fetuses in glass bottles that was sent to the city’s Museum of Medical Sciences.
Museum staff reported receiving the package on Tuesday morning, according to a police statement.
The package was addressed to the museum curator, had no return address, and contained a letter from someone claiming to be a retired doctor, stating that the two specimens were a gift to the museum.
“There is no proper documentation, provenance or information that would allow us to accept it,” says Mütter Museum curator Anna Dodi. told NBC Philadelphia.. “Obviously they looked like human remains, so we had to call the authorities.”
of Mutter Museum It is part of the Philadelphia College of Physicians and features a collection of preserved anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments.
The museum accepts donations, especially those involving human remains, but the process requires research and a detailed explanation of the object’s history.
Dody, who has been the museum’s curator for nearly 20 years, said the donation was “unusual, unusual and completely inappropriate procedure.” She told NBC News to discourage others from sending such “unsolicited anonymous remains.”
The fetus was handed over to the medical examiner’s office for further investigation. Philadelphia Police will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
