In Depth: Body parts investigation in Brooklyn funeral homes

Authorities are looking into new funeral homes in an investigation into the alleged theft of body parts from Brooklyn funeral homes to be sold for medical procedures. A grand jury indicted Michael Mastromarino,

News 12 Staff

Jun 23, 2006, 12:19 AM

Updated 6,887 days ago

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Authorities are looking into new funeral homes in an investigation into the alleged theft of body parts from Brooklyn funeral homes to be sold for medical procedures.
A grand jury indicted Michael Mastromarino, Joseph Nicelli, Chris Aldorasi and Lee Cruceta in February on charges related to the body snatching case. Police say Mastromarino was the owner of a tissue collection business and Nicelli was his partner. Mastromarino allegedly solicited funeral home employees to get body parts, like tissue and bones, without consent. Vito Bruno says investigators notified him that his father?s body, which was dropped off at a Sheepshead Bay funeral parlor, ended up at a Bath Beach funeral home and was dissected. Investigators also exhumed bodies and discovered that bones had been replaced with plumbing pipe.Pamela Grigorian says she may have received diseased tissue, which was traced to Mastromarino?s operation. She has filed a lawsuit against him and his conspirators. Meanwhile, the family members of relatives whose bodies were desecrated say they are hurt and many are grieving anew.
Attorneys for the suspects say their clients are innocent and are pushing to have the case thrown out. The men are scheduled to appear in court again in August.