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We delve into the notorious 1849 case of Dr. John White Webster, the Harvard professor who murdered fellow academic Dr. George Parkman over a $2,400 debt and dismembered his body at the medical school.

• Boston in the early 19th century provided the backdrop for a shocking academic murder
• Webster, educated at Harvard with further training in London, struggled financially despite his prestigious position
• Dr. George Parkman, worth approximately $370 million in today's currency, loaned Webster money which he couldn't repay
• Harvard janitor Ephraim Littlefield discovered human remains in Webster's laboratory after breaking through walls and a privy floor
• The sensational trial attracted 60,000 spectators with courtroom seating rotated every 10 minutes
• First US case to use dental evidence for identification in a murder trial
• Webster was executed in 1850 despite questions about the fairness of his trial and possible alternative suspects
• The case continues to fascinate crime historians due to its academic setting and forensic significance

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