Widow stunned after doctor uses her late husband's body for a 'morbid' $500 per person autopsy show

The widow of a 98-year-old World War II veteran who passed away in August -- and whose body was donated for scientific research -- was horrified to discover her late husband's remains were sold and used for an autopsy show at an Oregon hotel where attendees paid $500 to watch.

Adding insult to injury, the company his family selected to give his body to for research purposes -- Las Vegas-based firm Med Ed Labs -- in turn sold David Saunders to Death Science founder Jeremy Ciliberto for $10,000.

According to the report from the New York Times' Christine Hauser, Saunders' wife Elsie was horrified when she heard about the autopsy before a paying crowd at Portland, Oregon Marriott on October 17th.

"My impression, it was strictly for medical science, not that his body would be put on display," she stated before admitting that after hearing where her husband ended up, she was "trying to get myself together," and called the whole incident "morbid."

According to the independent, Saunders' body was displayed on a gurney in a conference room where "retired professor of anatomy Colin Henderson ... used a surgical knife to slice into his head, limbs and chest cavity, and removed his organs and brain. Audience members were invited to prod his body during the three-hour procedure."

Both reports note that his widow only found out after news of the event was broadcast after King 5 News sent a reporter to observe.

Speaking with King 5 News, funeral director Mike Clark, of Baton Rouge, who prepared Saunders' body for his funeral admitted he was disgusted with what occurred.

"It makes me really feel saddened that this gentleman was not given the dignity and the respect that he deserved and what he thought and what his family thought would happen to his body," he lamented.

Now fingers are being pointed between Med Ed Labs and Death Science's Ciliberto who claims they knew what he would be doing the veteran's body which became part of his Oddities and Curiosities Expo.

Ciliberto "said his company Death Science made it clear they would be selling tickets and that the 'bodybroker' had provided an anatomist for the event."

In a statement to the press he said, "We understand that this event has caused undue stress for the family and we apologize for that."