A 52-year-old woman, Kymberlee Schopper, has been arrested and charged with trading in human tissue after allegedly selling human remains through her curio shop "Wicked Wonderland" in Orange City, Florida, and on Facebook Marketplace, according to the Orange City Police Department.
Newsweek reached out to the Orange City PD Public Information Office via email on Sunday for comment.
What Is a Curio Shop?
A curio shop is a retail establishment that specializes in selling unusual, interesting, or rare objects, often of an antique nature. These stores typically feature eclectic collections of oddities, collectibles, curiosities, and decorative items that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts of the strange and unique. Curio shops may sell items ranging from vintage taxidermy and unusual natural specimens to antique medical instruments and historical artifacts.
The term "curio" comes from "curiosity," reflecting the shop's focus on objects that inspire wonder or fascination.
Why It Matters
This case highlights the intersection between unusual online commerce and state regulations protecting human remains, raising questions about the enforcement of such laws as online marketplaces make these types of transactions more accessible.
What To Know
An extensive 15-month investigation began in December 2023 when a local resident reported that Wicked Wonderland, was advertising human bones for sale on its Facebook page. According to police reports cited by FOX 35 Orlando, the items included skull fragments, a clavicle, scapula, ribs, vertebrae, and a partial skull, with prices ranging from $35 to $850.
When confronted by police, Schopper's business partner Ashley Lelesi, reportedly admitted they had been selling human bones for several years but claimed ignorance of Florida law prohibiting such sales. Schopper later insisted the bones were "educational models" protected under state law.
Authorities noted in their report that the store had several human bone fragments bought from private sellers, which Lelesi described as "genuine human remains" and "delicate in nature." Medical examination determined some remains were of archaeological origin, with one bone sample estimated to be more than 100-years-old and another more than 500-years-old.
What People Are Saying
Orange City Police Capt. Sherif El-Shami told The Daytona Beach News-Journal about the investigation: "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."
Wicked Wonderland posted on Facebook following the arrest that the store would be closed and weekend hours: "May vary from our usual schedule."
Aaron Surtees, psychologist and founder of City Hypnosis, previously told Newsweek: "Why someone decides to sell body parts is down to the individual—selling body parts on the black market is big business and completely unethical but mainly done for financial gain. Whether or not this keeps the buyer's urge for killing at bay is out for debate, but it could be a less harmful outlet for murder due to the collector being a perpetrator and not knowing that this is immoral and unhealthy."
What Happens Next
Schopper was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on $7,500 bail but still faces charges related to trading in human tissue. Her business partner awaits arrest on similar charges.
