On March 8, 2004, the University of California Police Department arrested 2 men, Henry Reid, Director of the University of California Los Angeles Willed Body Program and Ernest Nelson, an Anatomical Prosector, for allegations concerning the buying and selling of cadaver parts from the UCLA Willed Body Program.  Nelson, a 47-year old father of five, was thrust into the public eye as a ‘body snatcher’.  It was the latest scandal at UCLA involving its Willed Body Program and Nelson, having harvested specimens for the University for six years, was the latest fall guy.

While waiting on his day in court, Nelson contacted Journalist Deborah Robinson to ghost-write his tell-all book.  Nelson promised to come forward with ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth‘.  His inside eye-witness account of the UCLA Willed Body Program uncovers exactly what UCLA officials knew and through a remarkable six-year paper trail, Nelson reveals their well-established system of selling body parts. But he didn’t stop there. Uncensored and unmitigated–and before being sentenced to prison–Nelson handed over to Deborah his little black book of clients, including several Fortune 500 medical research companies.

Did UCLA officials know Ernest Nelson? Did UCLA officials know what Nelson did twice a week on the University campus? Did UCLA knowingly sell body parts through Nelson? “Yes. Yes. Yes”, Nelson emphatically professes. He offered his account of the details as proof.  But, as Deborah investigated his account, even he fell short of his promise of ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’.

Now, Deborah takes an investigative look into the scandal that resulted in the closure of the UCLA Willed Body Program, the arrest of two men involved and the mysterious death of a third man involved.  Having at her disposal Nelson’s original manuscript for his now defunct book, documents from his many years of harvesting specimens, and exclusive audio taped and handwritten interviews, Robinson sets out to prove, disprove and/or corroborate Nelson’s inside account of how he bought and sold body parts through UCLA’s Willed Body Program.

The resulting research uncovers lies, discovers truths and recovers the dignity of those who donated their bodies to medical research.  “Their families deserve to know the truth about the disposition of their loved ones remains.  unfortunately, no one is telling it.  Not Nelson.  Not UCLA.  This book will reveal the truth,” says Deborah.

In Willing Bodies, Deborah takes you Inside the UCLA Willed Body Program where the truth is far stranger than fiction.

Release TBA.

New Development in the UCLA Willed Body Program Scandal – Ernest Nelson Convicted!

Considering willing your body to research?  Do you have a relative who willed their body to the UCLA Willed Body Program?  Tell us the details.  Your story could be included in this upcoming book.

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