A shocking discovery was made by the FBI, when they raided a body and tissue donation center in Phoenix, Arizona. The facility, known as Biological Resource Center (BRC), was operating as a ‘human chop shop’, where donated bodies were butchered, packaged and sold for profit.
According to court documents, inside the obscure building located off Twenty-Fourth Street and University Boulevard, investigators found horrific scenes of human body parts sewn together with mismatching bodies, reminiscent of Frankenstein. Investigators could not find any scientific reason for the random body parts to be sewn together in such a fashion.
For example, someone’s head was attached to the torso of another person’s body. They also described seeing buckets of arms and legs, and a cooler filled with male genitalia. The body parts had no identification, and there was no apparent medical or scientific purpose for the dismemberment. This incident happened in 2019.
The documents also revealed the prices that BRC charged for the body parts. A torso with someone else’s head attached was selling for $2,400. Legs were going for around $1,100, and knees or feet were going for around $500. BRC claimed that it was providing the body parts for medical research, education and training, but some of the buyers were not aware of the origin or condition of the specimens.
Why Did FBI Raid the Secret Human Chop Shop at the Biological Resource Center in Phoenix?
The FBI raid was part of a nationwide investigation into the body donation industry, which is largely unregulated and operates in a legal gray area. Unlike organ donation, which is strictly controlled by federal and state laws, non-transplant tissue donation is not subject to any oversight or standards. This means that anyone can open a body donation center and solicit corpses from the public, often promising free cremation and a noble cause.
However, many donors and their families are unaware of what happens to their bodies after they sign the consent forms. Some of the bodies are used for legitimate purposes, such as medical research, education and training, but others are exploited for profit, sold to the highest bidder, or used for unethical or illegal activities.
How Social Media Reacted
The case of BRC has appalled many people, especially those who live in Phoenix, where the facility was located near schools and residential areas. Some of the plaintiffs who sued BRC said they felt betrayed and violated by the company, which did not honor their loved ones’ wishes or respect their dignity. They also expressed concern about the potential health and environmental risks posed by the improper handling and disposal of human remains.
In 2015, BRC’s owner, Stephen Gore, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of illegally conducting an enterprise. He was sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to pay restitution to the victims. In 2019, a jury awarded $58 million in damages to 10 of the 21 plaintiffs who filed a civil lawsuit against Gore and BRC. The lawsuit is still ongoing, as more plaintiffs are seeking justice and closure.
The case of BRC has also raised awareness and sparked debate about the need for more regulation and transparency in the body donation industry. Some lawmakers and advocates have proposed legislation to establish standards and oversight for the industry, and to protect the rights and interests of donors and their families.
They also urge the public to be more informed and cautious when considering body donation, and to research the reputation and practices of the donation centers before signing any agreements.
