Biomedical Body Parts Scandal Mastermind Hears From Victims and Families in Court
June 13th, 2008 amy
Michael Mastromarino, the mastermind behind the Biomedical body parts scandal, was to get 18 to 54 years in a plea deal, but Justice John Walsh put the sentencing off two weeks after a glitch in a probation report - although he allowed the families to have their say, the NY Daily News reports.
“You are a butcher of lifeless bodies who deserves to spend every day of 54 years in a jail cell,” said Anthony Dumaine, whose father’s corpse was used for body parts. “I will forever be tormented by the memory of how my father was mutilated for your greed.”
The bodies, which included that of “Masterpiece Theatre” host and writer Alistair Cooke, were looted and sold to medical companies for dental implants, knee replacements and other procedures.
In addition to the harm done to the families, Mastromarino and his cohorts may have endangered thousands who received unscreened body parts from diseased or compromised cadavers.
“Every time I brush my teeth, I think about the bones and tissue in my mouth,” said Stephanie Berardini, who had periodontal implants and now needs repeated tests for HIV, syphilis and other diseases.
Mastromarino may serve as few as 15 years.
