Having seen his sister grapple with a $300,000 (U.S.) liver transplant, San Marcos, Texas, resident Rick Roberts had one condition after his son was killed in a car accident: use the body for transplants without turning a profit. Neither the American Red Cross nor the Western Texas Lions Eye Bank Alliance could make that guarantee, but they'd already removed some of Joshua Roberts' parts. What to do? Surprising many, the two entities just couriered everything back.

A cooler with dry ice held the 17-year-old's femurs, kneecaps, hipbones and shoulder blades. Another package had the corneas. His heart came back in a jar.

"He'd been deboned like a piece of sausage," Roberts said. "It's unbelievable."

The Red Cross stands by their decision to return the parts, while the president of the board overseeing the eye bank suggested Roberts' request was to blame, and asked, "Is it unusual to take your car to a garage and have no fee?"

» Scott Saxon