Candace Chapman Scott, 36, pleaded not guilty to selling more than 20 boxes of human skulls, skin, hearts, arms, lungs, kidneys, penises, and a complete head to the owner of a private Facebook group called "Oddities." Apparently Scott worked for a commercial cremation company.
According to the indictment, Scott messaged the owner: "I follow your page and work and LOVE it. Just out of curiosity, would you know anyone in the market for a fully in tact [sic], embalmed brain?"
He ultimately paid her more than $10,000 for an array of organs. From NPR:
The indictment does not name the buyer, but separate state charges connect the case to Pennsylvania resident Jeremy Lee Pauley, age 40.
Pauley was charged by a Cumberland County criminal court with four counts of receiving stolen property, intending to participate in unlawful activity and abusing a corpse. Pauley's lawyer did not immediately return NPR's request for comment.
Police were tipped off to Pauley's purchases in June 2022, according to a press release announcing his arrest.
In July, a caller reported finding "human organs" and "human skin" resting in three five-gallon buckets in Pauley's basement, the press release says.
Pauley's Facebook page is still selling a human hand and a full set of human ribs, which Pauley says came from France.
A website bearing his name describes him as a "preservation specialist" who "works to produce educational tools through reconditioning retired medical remains."
