CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Michigan (AP)
— Two packages containing human body parts — including a liver and a partial head — that were intended for a lab were delivered to a home instead, and officials say more than two dozen similar packages could be dispersed across the United States.
The body parts, sent from China, were mistakenly dropped off at Franck and Ludivine Larmande's home by a DHL driver who thought the bubble-wrapped items were pieces to a table.
"My husband started to unwrap one and said, 'This is strange, it looks like a liver,'" Ludivine Larmande told The Grand Rapids Press. "He started the second one, but stopped as soon as we saw the ear."
"Something wasn't right. It was scary, and I'm glad I didn't open them."
The body parts — which are preserved — were for medical research, police Lt. Roger Parent said.
"There will definitely be a shock to people if they see these things, but there is no hazard to health," Parent said.
Two other packages headed to the lab broke open, scattering their contents.
The delivery company cooperated with investigators, DHL spokesman Robert Mints said. It is investigating whether it should have shipped the body parts and how the packages were dispersed.
"We certainly handle medical specimens, and we're trying to determine if the items shipped were permissible," Mints said. "It's not immediately clear what happened."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
— Two packages containing human body parts — including a liver and a partial head — that were intended for a lab were delivered to a home instead, and officials say more than two dozen similar packages could be dispersed across the United States.
The body parts, sent from China, were mistakenly dropped off at Franck and Ludivine Larmande's home by a DHL driver who thought the bubble-wrapped items were pieces to a table.
"My husband started to unwrap one and said, 'This is strange, it looks like a liver,'" Ludivine Larmande told The Grand Rapids Press. "He started the second one, but stopped as soon as we saw the ear."
"Something wasn't right. It was scary, and I'm glad I didn't open them."
The body parts — which are preserved — were for medical research, police Lt. Roger Parent said.
"There will definitely be a shock to people if they see these things, but there is no hazard to health," Parent said.
Two other packages headed to the lab broke open, scattering their contents.
The delivery company cooperated with investigators, DHL spokesman Robert Mints said. It is investigating whether it should have shipped the body parts and how the packages were dispersed.
"We certainly handle medical specimens, and we're trying to determine if the items shipped were permissible," Mints said. "It's not immediately clear what happened."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
