Bizarre Bone Trade: Florida Woman Nabbed for Selling Skulls on Facebook
In an unsettling twist in the realm of online marketplaces, authorities detained Kymberlee Anne Schopper, a 52-year-old from Deltona, Florida, for allegedly trading in human remains. This incident raises eyebrows on how commonly available platforms like Facebook Marketplace might become conduits for such transactions.
The Unexpected Arrest
As media reports highlight, Schopper was apprehended on a Thursday night by the Orange City Police Department. Accused of trading human tissue, she was released the following day on a $7,500 bail. The arrest followed a December 21, 2023, report, spotlighting a chilling discovery at ‘Wicked Wonderland’, a local enterprise flaunting a sickening catalog of human bones.
Of Skulls and ‘Wicked Wonderland’
Surprisingly, the Wicked Wonderland website brazenly listed prices: two human skulls for \(90, human clavicles, and scapulas at \)90, a human rib at \(35, vertebrae for \)35, and a partial skull shockingly pegged at $600. Law enforcement swiftly seized these remains, turning them over for medical examination.
Owner’s Alleged Ignorance of Florida Laws
Claiming ignorance of the law, Schopper, co-owner of the bone trade venture, maintained that selling human remains had been part of her business for years. She contended that the bones, described as archaeological finds more than 100 years old—and some dating back over 500 years—had documentation, though she could not produce it during her arrest.
Educational or Deceptive?
When questioned, Schopper defended the company’s practices by declaring the bones as ‘educational models’. Interestingly, Florida law does permit the sale of models, yet this ambiguity in classification formed a central argument in Schopper’s defense.
A Wake-Up Call for Regulators
This case poses challenging questions about the regulation of online marketplaces, privacy concerns, and the enforcement of laws regarding human artifacts. According to Mint, such incidents serve as a reminder of how legal frameworks need constant evolution to adapt to digital marketplaces.
The bizarre nature of this trade, coupled with its legal implications, continues to unravel, serving as a stark reminder for regulators to keep a closer eye on the burgeoning online market.
