Woman donated husband’s body to science but it ended up being blown up by military
ArchiveFirst published March 11, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
A woman was horrified to learn that her late husband’s body, which she donated for medical research, was instead used in a military explosion.
A Shocking Discovery
Steve Hansen wanted to donate his organs after death, but due to cirrhosis, they were deemed unsuitable. Hospice workers suggested body donation for science, and his wife, Jill, believed he would help medical research. “I just thought, what a great candidate for them to learn about the results of alcoholism,” she told CBS.
Sold Without Consent
Instead, Steve’s body was sent to the Biological Research Center (BRC) in Arizona and later sold to the Department of Defense. Jill was devastated to learn, “They told me specifically that my husband had been used as a crash test dummy in a simulated Humvee explosion.”
Industry Lacks Oversight
BRC founder Stephen Gore sold bodies without consent and was sentenced to one year in prison. FBI Agent Paul Micah Johnson warned, “The misleading of families across the industry is quite common.”
Call for Regulation
Johnson emphasized the need for standardized federal laws: “It would be nice if there was one playbook for everyone.”
