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Doctor With Body Parts In Storage Unit Facing More Charges
November 15, 2012
The former medical examiner that had body parts from over 100 people in an Escambia County storage unit is facing additional charges.
Michael Edward Berkland was charged Wednesday with four counts of petit theft punishable by up to 60 days in jail . He had previously been charged with one count of improper disposal/storage of hazardous waste and one count of public nuisance, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
The improper storage charged is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison, while the public nuisance charge is a second degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail.
The remains were stored in plastic containers, specimen cups and trash bags inside Unit B12 at Uncle Bob’s Storage at 195 East Fairfield Drive. The unit was rented by Berkland, a former associate medical examiner who is no longer licensed in Florida, according to the Pensacola Police Department.
Lungs, hearts, tissue samples, and 10 brains were among the body parts from more than 100 people found in the air conditioned unit. The body parts were stored in formaldehyde in plastic containers, plastic bags, and even a 32-ounce Styrofoam cup from a convenience store.
Some of the containers had cracked and leaked, police said.
Storage shed Manager George Klages told police contents of the unit had been sold for $900 during an auction on August 22. As the purchaser began cleaning out the unit, cardboard boxes of plastic containers holding the remains were found.
Klages told police Berkland rented the unit from April 8, 2009, until it was auctioned August 22. He said Berkland was late on rental payments several times during the lease, but usually paid right before the unit contents were to be auctioned. The storage unit also contained office furniture and other property.
It is believed the remains are from autopsies Berkland did between 1997 and 2007 at funeral homes in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City.
At the time of his arrest, Berkland was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and was also charged with that offense.
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