A 52-year-old Florida woman was arrested Thursday after an investigation starting in 2023 discovered she was buying and selling human bones on Facebook Marketplace. Police say that Kymberlee Schopper of Volusia County is being charged with trading in human tissue, which is a second-degree felony in the state of Florida. Schopper owns the shop Wicked Wonderland in Orange City, Florida.
Florida Woman Sells Human Remains
Florida woman Kymberlee Schopper is a business owner in Orange City, along with her business partner, Ashley Lelesi. The business, a curio shop called Wicked Wonderland, was reported in 2023 by a shopper who told police the store was advertising the sale of human bones. A curio shop is similar to an antique store but specializes in unique and interesting finds. As Newsweek reports, this can include “vintage taxidermy and unusual natural specimens to antique medical instruments and historical artifacts.”
According to police, they began investigating the shop in 2023 when a local shopper alerted law enforcement that the shop was advertising human bones on its Facebook page. According to the arrest warrant, multiple different bones were being advertised, including two skull fragments for $90, a clavicle and scapula for $90, a rib for $35, a vertebrae for $35, and a partial skull for $600.
Police interviewed the Florida woman’s business partner, Lelesi, about the listings. She admitted they sold the bones but claimed they did not know it was illegal. The arrest warrant states, “She confirmed that the store had multiple human bone fragments, all purchased from private sellers, and mentioned she has documentation for these transactions but could not provide it at the moment.” The woman claimed they bought all remains from medical or educational sources and even believed they were educational models.
Orange City Police Capt. Sherif El-Shami responded to The Daytona Beach News-Journal with a statement regarding the investigation of the Florida woman. “It’s not every day that you find real human bones online. Yes, it is illegal to sell human remains in Florida. I am just glad it has come to an end.” According to the medical examiner, the bones range anywhere from 100 to 500 years in age.
What Is Next For Florida Business Owners
The case brings up an interesting dilemma. States each hold their laws regarding the trade of goods, and what can and cannot be sold. Online marketplaces have made it easier to advertise things that may not follow state law. States have the authority to regulate in their jurisdictions, but this raises the question of how online shopping fits into the jurisdiction. The case establishes that anyone who owns a business in Florida, even if retailing online, is subject to state laws.
As of Saturday, April 12, Florida woman Kymberlee Schopper had been released from jail on a $7,500 bond. She now awaits trial on charges of trading human tissue. Her business partner, Ashley Lelesi, is currently awaiting similar charges. As the investigation continues and more details are released by law enforcement or in court, the story will be updated.
