Woman Arrested for Selling Human Bones on Facebook Marketplace

A Florida woman, identified as 52-year-old Kymberlee Schopper, has been charged with illegally dealing in human remains.

According to the Orange City Police Department, Schopper used both her curiosity shop, called "Wicked Wonderland," and the Facebook Marketplace to sell bone fragments, which has led to a charge of trafficking in human remains.

According to the police report, the investigation began in December 2023 when a local resident reported that the shop was advertising the sale of human bones on its Facebook page.

Among the items offered were skull fragments, ribs, vertebrae, a clavicle and a shoulder blade, as well as a partial skull, with prices ranging from $35 to $850.

The "Wicked Wonderland" store was marketed as a space for collectors and enthusiasts of the unusual, but authorities discovered that some of the items for sale violated the law, as the sale of authentic human remains, such as those found in the store, is regulated by state law.

The 15-month investigation revealed that the human remains in the possession of Schopper and his business partner, Ashley Lelesi, had been purchased from private individuals. Lelesi admitted to selling human bones for several years, although he claimed to be unaware that this practice was illegal.

For his part, Schopper argued that the remains were "educational models" and therefore protected by state law. However, authorities determined that several of the bone fragments were authentic and of archaeological origin.

A forensic medical examination concluded that some of the remains were over 100 years old, while others were over 500 years old.

Following her arrest, Schopper was released from the Volusia County Jail on $7,500 bail, although she still faces charges related to human tissue trafficking. Her business partner, Lelesi, could also be arrested on similar charges.