The family of Victor Carl Honey, a U.S. Army veteran, is seeking justice after his body was allegedly donated to science and sold for profit without their consent. Honey, who battled with paranoid schizophrenia and was homeless at the time of his death in September 2022, was entitled to a military funeral. However, his body was deemed unclaimed and subsequently given to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for medical research.

According to an investigation by NBC News, Honey's body was frozen, cut into pieces, and sold to various medical programs. Shockingly, his right leg was sold for $341 to a Swedish medical device maker, while a Pittsburgh medical education company paid $900 for his torso. Honey's ex-wife, Kimberly Patman, expressed her disbelief at the situation, highlighting that she and their children were living in Dallas, and questioning how his body could be considered unclaimed.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has acknowledged the failures within its Willed Body Program and expressed deep apologies to the impacted families. They have stated that the program fell short of their standards and have taken immediate actions, including the permanent closure of the BioSkills Lab, suspension of the Willed Body Program pending an internal assessment, and termination of program leadership.

NBC News has reported that aside from Honey's family, eleven other families discovered that their loved ones had been deemed unclaimed and their body parts had been sold after death. The University's actions have raised concerns about the transparency, integrity, and ethical standards of the institution.

Patman revealed that Honey had never expressed a desire to be an organ donor and had discussed this with him. She expressed frustration with the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office, claiming that they did not make sufficient efforts to locate next of kin. Patman argued that if NBC News could find her in a day, then authorities could have found her as well.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth emphasized their commitment to education and improving healthcare while expressing their dedication to transparency and ethical standards. They hope that the actions taken will restore trust in their institution and ensure that educational studies are conducted with dignity, grace, and respect.

As the family of Victor Carl Honey seeks answers and justice for their father, the disturbing revelation has shed light on the need for stronger oversight and accountability in programs involving the donation and use of human bodies for scientific research. It is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of respecting the wishes of the deceased and ensuring the dignity of their remains.