Introduction to the Case
An Australian woman narrowly avoided jail on Monday over her plans to sell on the black market two human toes that had been regurgitated by dogs at the animal shelter where she worked.
Joanna Kathlyn Kinman, 48, was not present at the animal shelter in the southeastern state of Victoria when the two dogs vomited up the toes and other remains in February 2024. The dogs, which had been surrendered to the shelter, had eaten parts of their owner’s body after he died of natural causes; the owner has not been publicly identified.
The Discovery and Investigation
Kinman reportedly told police she had retrieved the toes from a bin and taken them home, where she put them in a jar of formaldehyde. She appeared to believe she could make as much as 400 Australian dollars ($253) by selling them online.
When police arrived at her home on an anonymous tip, the Australian Associated Press reported, she showed them other items she had been keeping including an alligator claw, a bird skull, a guinea pig trotter and her children’s teeth.
Involvement in Online Communities
Prosecutors said she was an active member of a Facebook group called “Bone Buddies Australia” where specimens are bought, sold and traded.
On Monday, Kinman pleaded guilty to offensive conduct involving human remains at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in Melbourne, the news agency said. She faced a maximum possible sentence of two years in prison.
Sentencing and Reaction
Magistrate Andrew Sim sentenced her to an 18-month non-custodial sentence, including 150 hours of community service.
“By the barest of possible margins you will not be going to jail today,” Sim told Kinman, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, describing her actions as “astounding” and “entirely odd.”
Kinman’s lawyer, Rainer Martini, told the court that his client “regretted her actions fulsomely.” He added that Kinman had lost her job and been publicly shamed online by a community that was “unsurprisingly repulsed by her behavior.”
Conclusion
The case of Joanna Kathlyn Kinman highlights the unusual and disturbing nature of some online communities and the illegal activities that can occur within them. The sentence handed down reflects the seriousness with which the court viewed her actions, while also taking into account her remorse and the consequences she has already faced.
FAQs
- Q: What was Joanna Kathlyn Kinman charged with?
A: Kinman was charged with offensive conduct involving human remains. - Q: What was the potential maximum sentence she faced?
A: She faced a maximum possible sentence of two years in prison. - Q: What sentence was Kinman ultimately given?
A: She was sentenced to an 18-month non-custodial sentence, including 150 hours of community service. - Q: Why did the dogs have human remains in their vomit?
A: The dogs had eaten parts of their owner’s body after the owner died of natural causes. - Q: What online community was Kinman a part of?
A: She was an active member of a Facebook group called “Bone Buddies Australia” where specimens are bought, sold and traded.
