According to a statement by the Philadelphia Police Department, it has already launched an investigation surrounding the package sent to the local Mütter Museum last Tuesday morning, Feb. 6, which contained two preserved fetuses
How the Jarred Fetuses Reached the Mütter Museum
The police said that museum staff and curator Anna Dhody was the first to discover the alarming contents of the package, a jar that housed the two preserved fetuses.
Dhody told CBS News that the package was accompanied by a letter that said it was from a retired physician. The letter also confirmed the nature of the jar's contents.
As of now, the source of the package is still unconfirmed, especially because there were no identifying information was attached to the letter. The jarred fetuses have since been turned over to the authorities following its discovery.
Philadelphia's Mütter Museum is known for displaying preserved anatomical specimens alongside its collection of human anatomy models and medical tools, however, it is the first time the institution has received unsolicited human remains in such a manner in over 20 years.
Not 'Normal Procedure' for the Mütter Museum
In a separate statement by Dhody, this time to the local publication The Philadelphia Inquirer, she said that the absence of "documentation" attached to the package was clearly in violation of the "normal procedure," which prompted her to quickly make relevant calls.
She reiterated that the museum does not receive, let alone accept, any unwarranted donations of specimens. Instead, the institution only allows donations by mail if they have already been approved and are expected at a specified date, at least, until recently.
Earlier last year, the museum launched its "Postmortem: Mütter Museum" initiative which put on hold all donations of specimens while it crafts new policies in light of ethical considerations that the community may have about displaying the human remains it is known for.
Anyone who might have information regarding the recent incident at the museum is requested to call or text the tip line that the Philadelphia Police Department has set up at this number: 215-686-TIPS (8477).
