Massachusetts man charged with stealing eye parts he allegedly mistook for lobsters

MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut (AP) -- A Massachusetts man is charged with stealing two human corneas that were donated to be transplanted.

Charles Dellaria, 37, was arrested inside the Foxwoods Resort Casino with the corneas, which belonged to the New England Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank in Boston. Police said they had been stolen from a bus station in Boston along with the donor's medical records, which also were recovered.

Dellaria told state police that he thought the plastic foam package holding the corneas on ice was filled with lobsters, State Police Detective Jeff Megin said. The package was about the size of a 12-pack beer container.

"I think that it was just a crime of opportunity. I don't believe he's involved in any type of stolen human body part ring," Megin said. "He thought they were lobsters."

Dellaria was charged Friday with larceny and possession of cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

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