Introduction to the Case
A business owner in Volusia County was arrested on Thursday after being accused of selling and buying human bones on Facebook, police said.
Kymberlee Schopper, 52, was charged with trading in human tissue, which is a second-degree felony.
The Arrest and Charges
Schopper on Friday was released on a $7,500 bond. According to Orange City Police, detectives have been investigating Schopper since 2023 after receiving a tip that her store, Wicked Wonderland, was advertising human bones that were for sale.
Investigation Findings
During their investigation, officers found the following remains for sale on the store’s website:
- two human skull fragments: $90
- human clavicle and scapula: $90
- human rib: $35
- human vertebra: $35
- partial human skull: $600
As their investigation continued, officers spoke to the co-owner of the business who told them they were selling human bones and didn’t know that it was illegal.
Claims and Testing
Schopper, police said, claimed the bones were educational models. To know for certain if the bones were human, OCPD submitted the bones to the medical examiner’s officer in Daytona Beach for testing. The bones were also analyzed by Dr. Jonathan D. Bethard, of the Forensic Anthropology and Bioarcheology Laboratory at the University of South Florida campus in Tampa. Following the tests, a report said the fragments came from two different people. The tests also revealed one was possibly of archaeological origin and the other anatomical.
Further Questioning
When Schopper was questioned again by police, she continued to claim the bones were educational models and that she spoke with members of the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration.
Conclusion
The case of Kymberlee Schopper highlights the importance of being aware of the laws and regulations surrounding the sale and purchase of human remains. It also raises questions about the ease of buying and selling such items on social media platforms. As the investigation and legal proceedings continue, it will be interesting to see how this case unfolds and what implications it may have for the sale of human remains online.
FAQs
Q: What was Kymberlee Schopper charged with?
A: Schopper was charged with trading in human tissue, a second-degree felony.
Q: How did the investigation into Schopper’s business begin?
A: The investigation began after police received a tip that her store, Wicked Wonderland, was advertising human bones for sale.
Q: What was the result of the testing on the human remains?
A: The tests revealed that the fragments came from two different people, with one possibly being of archaeological origin and the other anatomical.
Q: What was Schopper’s claim about the human remains?
A: Schopper claimed that the bones were educational models.
Q: How much was Schopper’s bond?
A: Schopper was released on a $7,500 bond.
