Skulls, Ribs and a Price Tag: Florida Woman Caught Selling Human Remains Online
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A 52-year-old woman from Orange City, Florida, has been arrested for allegedly buying and selling human remains, including bones and skulls, through her retail store and on Facebook Marketplace. The woman is facing charges of trading in human tissue after law enforcement officials uncovered that she was offering genuine human bones for sale through her business, "Wicked Wonderland." Authorities stated that the bones were marketed as "educational models," which the woman believed made the sales legal. However, Florida law strictly prohibits the sale of human tissue outside of tightly regulated circumstances.
The investigation began on December 21, 2023, when authorities received a tip about a local business attempting to sell human remains. The tip included screenshots from a Facebook page displaying various human bones for sale with listed prices. Items included:
Two human skull fragments – $90
A human clavicle and scapula – $90
A human rib – $35
A human vertebra – $35
A partial human skull – $600
All remains were seized and sent to the Medical Examiner's Office for evaluation. During questioning, the woman admitted the bones were real and had been acquired over several years from private sellers. Though she claimed to possess documentation for the purchases, she was unable to produce any supporting paperwork. Forensic testing determined that some of the bones were of considerable age, with one specimen estimated to be over 500 years old. Others appeared to be of archaeological origin. She was taken into custody Thursday evening and released the following day on a $7,500 bond. The investigation is ongoing, with state and federal authorities assisting in tracing the origins of the human remains and determining the full scope of the case.
