A recent incident in Florida has brought attention to the illegal trade of human bones online. Kymberlee Anne Schopper, a 52-year-old woman from Deltona, was arrested for knowingly buying and selling human bones, according to the Orange City Police Department. She was charged with trading in human tissue and released on $7,500 bond.
The investigation began when police received a report about a local business, Wicked Wonderland, selling human bones on Facebook Marketplace. The business was advertising two human skulls for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib for $35, human vertebrae for $35, and a partial human skull for $600. Images from the business’s Facebook page were submitted as evidence.
Authorities seized the human remains and sent them for testing by a medical examiner. The shop owner admitted to selling human bones for years, claiming ignorance of the illegality in Florida. She mentioned that the bones were purchased from private sellers and described them as genuine human remains.
While the shop owner referred to the bones as “educational models,” another owner, Schopper, clarified that models can be legally sold in Florida. Experts determined that some of the bones were likely archaeological finds, with some being over 100 years old and others over 500 years old.
The incident sheds light on the underground market for human bones and the importance of regulating such trade to prevent exploitation and unethical practices. It serves as a reminder of the need for strict laws and enforcement to protect human remains and ensure ethical practices in the handling and selling of such items.
