Florida woman arrested for allegedly selling human bones via Facebook marketplace
New Delhi: A 52-year-old woman from Florida, Kymberlee Schopper, has been arrested for allegedly trading in human bones including skull fragments and ribs through Facebook Marketplace. Authorities said the sales were conducted through her Orange City-based business, ‘Wicked Wonderland’.
Schopper was taken into custody on April 11 and later released on a $7,500 bond from Volusia County Jail. The arrest followed a months-long investigation initiated on December 21, 2023, when Orange City Police received a tip-off about the alleged sale of human remains through a business’s Facebook page.
Police reviewed images shared by the informant, which appeared to show listings of human bones on social media. The business was identified as ‘Wicked Wonderland’, located on North Volusia Avenue. A subsequent review of its website revealed several items for sale, including skull fragments, a clavicle, scapula, rib, vertebra, and a partial skull.
Law enforcement officials visited the store and collected the remains, which were later sent to the medical examiner’s office for analysis. During questioning, one of the business owners confirmed that human bones had been sold for years and stated they were purchased from private sellers. While the owner claimed to have documentation for the transactions, it was not produced at the time.
According to the arrest affidavit cited by FOX 35 Orlando, Schopper described the remains as authentic and delicate. She reportedly believed they were legal to sell under state law, categorizing them as educational models.
However, experts examining the recovered items concluded that some remains could be archaeological in nature. One skull fragment was estimated to be over 100 years old, while another bone appeared to be more than 500 years old. Schopper now faces charges related to the illegal sale and purchase of human tissue under Florida law.
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At UN, India flags concerns over targeting of vessels in Strait of Hormuz
United Nations (PTI): Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said.
Harish's remarks at a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on safeguarding energy and supply flows came days after an India-flagged commercial vessel came under attack off the coast of Oman.
Omani authorities rescued all 14 crew members of the vessel sailing from Somalia, but it was not immediately known who carried out the strike.
In a post on X on Sunday, Harish said that at the UNECOSOC meeting, he shared India's approach to the recent energy and fertiliser crisis caused by the West Asia conflict.
"A combination of short-term and structural measures alongside international cooperation are essential to respond to the crisis," he said.
"Reiterated that targeting of commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable. International law in this regard must be fully respected," he added.
The attack on the India-flagged vessel on May 13 took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
It has been severely disrupted by the conflict in West Asia that started on February 28, with the US and Israel launching joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
Earlier, India had described the attack as "unacceptable".
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict broke out.
According to the UNECOSOC website, the meeting, which took place on Friday, focused on “Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation”.
