Florida Woman Arrested for Selling Human Remains on Facebook Marketplace

A Florida woman is facing criminal charges after police say she was buying and selling human bones through her business and on Facebook Marketplace.

Kymberlee Schopper, 52, of Volusia County, was arrested Thursday and charged with the purchase or sale of human organs and tissue, according to court records. She owns Wicked Wonderland, a curio shop in Orange City known for offering preservation services, gothic antiques, and unusual art.

The Orange City Police Department began investigating the shop in 2023 after receiving a tip that the store’s Facebook page was advertising human remains. According to an arrest affidavit, officers found multiple listings showing skull fragments, bones, and other human parts for sale with a total value of $850.

The items included two human skull fragments for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib for $35, a human vertebrae for $35, and a partial human skull listed for $600.

Police interviewed Ashley Lelesi, 33, co-owner of Wicked Wonderland, who told investigators the shop had been selling bones for several years and said she didn’t know it was illegal in Florida. She said the bones were genuine and had been bought from private sellers. Lelesi claimed to have documentation but could not provide it during the interview.

Officers collected five bone fragments from the store with Lelesi’s consent. She said one of the skull fragments had already been sold for $50.

When Schopper and Lelesi met with police again, Schopper claimed the bones were educational models, which are legal to sell in Florida. However, the affidavit states that both women became upset when told the remains could not be returned, as they were now part of the investigation.

Wicked Wonderland’s website describes the shop as being run by “a mother and daughter team who revel in the madness of the strange and unusual; the dark and macabre.” The site also claims both women have medical backgrounds and a passion for exploring anatomy and pathology.

The bone fragments were sent to Dr. Jonathan D. Bethard at the University of South Florida’s Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Laboratory. Testing showed the remains likely came from two different individuals, with one dating back hundreds of years.

Schopper was released from the Volusia County Jail on a $7,500 bond Friday. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 1. It’s unclear if she has retained an attorney. Lelesi has also been charged, but her custody status has not yet been confirmed.

The case remains under investigation.