In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with new forms of outrage, it's hard to know whether to be shocked or numb to the latest news of grotesque behavior. But the recent arrest of Kymberlee Schopper, a 52-year-old woman from Florida, has left even the most desensitized among us with a sense of utter disgust. Schopper, arrested on April 11th and released on a $7,500 bond, stands accused of selling human remains — including bones, skull fragments, and ribs — through Facebook Marketplace. Yes, you read that right: human bones, treated as merchandise, casually posted on a platform that connects people selling everything from second-hand furniture to random knick-knacks.
A Sickening Business Model
Schopper’s business, Wicked Wonderland, based in Orange City, Florida, was allegedly dealing in human bones for years. She is now facing charges of the unlawful sale and purchase of human tissue, after authorities discovered the grisly nature of her transactions. According to reports, the remains were bought and sold through Facebook Marketplace, as well as on the store’s website. Among the items listed were human skull fragments, clavicles, scapulas, ribs, and vertebrae — essentially human body parts, sold to anyone with the right price.
The real question here isn’t just about the morality of using human remains as a commodity. It’s about how people can look at such an item, press a few buttons, and think it’s somehow appropriate to make a transaction over it. Human bones are not antique collectibles or old furniture. The idea that anyone could casually sell body parts online without realizing how fundamentally wrong it is speaks volumes about just how disconnected some have become from basic humanity and respect for the dead.
A Horrifying Lack of Awareness
What’s even more alarming is Schopper’s defense. According to reports, when questioned, she claimed that she did not realize the sale of human remains was illegal. She believed the bones were "educational models" and thought their sale was legal under Florida state law. It’s almost laughable in its naivety, if it weren’t so deeply disturbing. Selling human bones for years, without once questioning whether it was legal or ethical, reveals a startling indifference to basic decency.
Imagine the audacity — running a business that deals in human remains, all the while unaware of the laws that protect human dignity. Even if we entertain the idea that she wasn’t fully aware of the legal nuances, the fact that she’s part of a business involving such items should have been a huge red flag. But, no — this isn’t about ignorance. It’s about profit and the chilling normalization of turning human bodies into consumer goods. That’s where the true horror lies.
The Murky History of Human Bones
Experts who analyzed the remains found that some bones could have archaeological significance, with estimates suggesting that one skull fragment was over 100 years old, and another could be more than 500 years old. So, what we have here is not just the illegal trade of human tissue, but potentially the theft and illegal sale of historically significant items. The disrespect for both the dead and the cultural significance of human remains only adds another layer of disgust to an already sickening story.
What’s Wrong with Us?
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this entire incident is the apathetic tone with which it’s been received. In the grand scheme of all the madness that seems to be happening in the world, this story might seem like just another blip on the radar. But the fact that human remains are now being sold online as casually as second-hand furniture is a sign of something deeply broken in our collective consciousness.
Is this really the point we’ve come to — where we no longer view humanity and respect for the dead as sacred, but as yet another transaction, yet another way to make money? Where we don't even blink when we read about people selling bones, potentially hundreds of years old, as if they were nothing more than collectibles? This case isn’t just about one woman’s crime — it’s a reflection of a much larger problem: the dehumanization that is becoming all too easy to ignore.
In the end, perhaps it’s not about the bones or the outrageousness of the sale itself. It’s about the fact that we’re becoming numb to the idea that people can commodify something as sacred as a human body. We can only hope that stories like this start to serve as a wake-up call, prompting us to reexamine our values and what we consider acceptable in a world that’s quickly losing its sense of humanity.
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