CBS News
Philadelphia Mütter Museum receives 2 preserved fetuses in package: police
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia police have launched an investigation after they said a package containing two preserved fetuses was delivered to the Mütter Museum Tuesday morning.
Police said at around 11:36 a.m., museum staff received a package that held two preserved fetuses inside a glass jar. It is unknown at this time where the package came from.
“I opened it up. There was a letter there that said this was a retired physician and he or she was saying they had these two specimens and that’s basically it,” Museum curator Anna Dhody said.
Dhody said when it comes to donations, there’s a whole process that goes into it and nothing is ever just dropped off at the museum like this. She said the package was specifically addressed to her and didn’t include a return address.
“But there was no identifying information. They just identified themselves as a retired physician. There were two bottles with fluid and inside that there appeared to be two very small fetal remains,” she said.
The fetuses are said to have been turned over to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office for review.
Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum displays preserved collections of anatomical specimens, models and medical instruments.
The goal of the unique museum is to help its visitors understand the mysteries and beauty of the human body and appreciate the history of diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Mütter website said.
Anyone with information regarding the unusual incident is asked to call or text the Philadelphia Police Department tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in
for more features.
CBS News
Former New York Gov. David Paterson, stepson attacked while walking in New York City
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.”
The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.”
Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor.
CBS News
10/4: CBS Evening News – CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Teen critically wounded in shooting on Philadelphia bus; one person in custody
A 17-year-old boy was critically injured and a person is in custody after a gunman opened fire on a SEPTA bus in North Philadelphia Friday evening, police said.
At around 6:15 p.m., Philadelphia police were notified about a shooting on a SEPTA bus traveling on Allegheny Avenue near 3rd and 4th streets in North Philadelphia, Inspector D F Pace told CBS News Philadelphia.
There were an estimated 30 people on the bus at the time of the shooting, Pace said, but only the 17-year-old boy was believed to have been shot. Investigators said they believe it was a targeted attack on the teenager and that he was shot in the back of the bus at close range.
According to Pace, the SEPTA bus driver alerted a control center about the shooting, which then relayed the message to Philadelphia police, who responded to the scene shortly.
Officers arrived at the scene and found at least one spent shell casing and blood on the bus, but no shooting victim, Pace said. Investigators later discovered the 17-year-old had been taken to Temple University Hospital where he is said to be in critical condition, according to police.
Through their preliminary investigation, police learned those involved in the SEPTA shooting may have fled in a silver-colored Kia.
Authorities then found a car matching the description of the Kia speeding in the area and a pursuit began, Pace said. Police got help from a PPD helicopter as they followed the Kia, which ended up crashing at 5th and Greenwood streets in East Mount Airy. Pace said the Kia crashed into a parked car.
The driver of the crashed car ran away but police were still able to take them into custody, Pace said.
Investigators believe there was a second person involved in the shooting who ran from the car before it crashed. Police said they believe this person escaped near Allegheny Avenue and 4th Street, leaving a coat behind.
According to Pace, police also found a gun and a group of spent shell casings believed to be involved in the shooting in the same area.
“It’s very possible that there may have been a shooting inside the bus and also shots fired from outside of the bus toward the bus,” Pace said, “We’re still trying to piece all that together at this time.”
This is an active investigation and police are reviewing surveillance footage from the SEPTA bus.