Pennsylvania man bought human body parts online, DA says

HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES. RYAN: A PENNSYLVANIA MAN IS UNDER ARREST AND CHARGED WITH BUYING HUMAN BODY PARTS. MICHELLE: I GUESS IT IS TIME TO WARN EVERYBODY THE DETAILS OF THIS STORY ARE DISTURBING. POLICE MADE THE DISCOVERY INSIDE JEREMY PAULEY’S CUMBERLAND COUNTY HOME. OFFICERS SAY THEY FOUND BUCKETS OF HUMAN REMAINS INCLUDING BRAINS, HEARTS, LIVERS AND LUNGS INSIDE. POLICE SAY PAULEY CONNECTED WITH A WOMAN IN ARKANSAS ON FACEBOOK AND PAID HER $4000 FOR MORE BODY PARTS. THE WOMAN WAS STEALING THEM FROM A MORTUARY. AS THE PARTS WERE BEING MAILED THROUGH THE POSTAL SERVICE, POLICE INTERCEPTED THEM IN SCRANTON. BACK IN JUNE, POLICE WERE ALSO ALERTED TO HIS HOUSE AS THEY HEARD HE WAS TRYING TO SELL SKELETONS AND SKULLS ON FACEBOOK. AT THE TIME THEY SAID THOSE ITEMS WERE VERY OLD AND SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN LEGITIMATELY PURCHASED. NOW THEY’RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS AND ISN’T LEGAL IN THESE DEALINGS. >> I KIND OF EQUATE IT TO THE DEALING OF STOLEN AUTOMOBILE PARTS. YOU CAN HAVE PROPERLY OBTAINED AUTOMOBILE PARTS AND YOU CAN SELL THEM OR YOU CAN HAVE STOLEN FROM A CHOP SHOP THAT IS BEING RESOLD AND THAT MAKES THOSE ILLEGAL. IT’S KIND OF THE SAME TYPE OF SITUATION HERE. MICHELLE: PAULEY WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY AND THEN RELEASED

A Pennsylvania man was purchasing human body parts online, according to the Cumberland County district attorney's office.Jeremy Pauley, 40, was arrested Thursday and is charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities.East Pennsboro Township police received a complaint on June 14 about possible human body parts being sold online.On or around July 8, police were called to Pauley's former home on North Enola Drive by a caller who reported finding possible human remains inside several buckets in the basement.The district attorney's office said that after police conducted a search warrant and seized the buckets, a forensic pathologist confirmed the remains were human body parts. According to a criminal complaint, those parts included brains, a heart, kidney, spleen, livers, lungs and skin.Pauley purchased the remains through Facebook Messenger, according to investigators.Police said they obtained messages that showed Pauley was attempting to purchase additional remains from a woman in Arkansas. Those items were to be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service to Pennsylvania. The district attorney's office said the packages were intercepted in Scranton and contained human remains.The criminal complaint alleges the woman was stealing the body parts from a mortuary in Arkansas and shipping them to Pennsylvania for sale. The human remains were determined to be the property of the University of Arkansas, according to investigators.The University of Arkansas for Medical Services spoke to sister station, 40/29 News about the incident and provided this statement:"An employee of the mortuary service is under investigation by federal authorities for taking some human remains from the mortuary that were donated to UAMS. We are saddened and appalled that this happened."A criminal complaint alleges Pauley admitted to purchasing two shipments of human body parts to sell to people for monetary gain."This is one of the most bizarre investigations I have encountered in my 33 years as a prosecutor. Just when I think I have seen it all, a case like this comes around," District Attorney Seán M. McCormack said.Police said Pauley was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

EAST PENNSBORO TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

A Pennsylvania man was purchasing human body parts online, according to the Cumberland County district attorney's office.

Jeremy Pauley, 40, was arrested Thursday and is charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities.

East Pennsboro Township police received a complaint on June 14 about possible human body parts being sold online.

On or around July 8, police were called to Pauley's former home on North Enola Drive by a caller who reported finding possible human remains inside several buckets in the basement.

The district attorney's office said that after police conducted a search warrant and seized the buckets, a forensic pathologist confirmed the remains were human body parts. According to a criminal complaint, those parts included brains, a heart, kidney, spleen, livers, lungs and skin.

Pauley purchased the remains through Facebook Messenger, according to investigators.

Police said they obtained messages that showed Pauley was attempting to purchase additional remains from a woman in Arkansas. Those items were to be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service to Pennsylvania. The district attorney's office said the packages were intercepted in Scranton and contained human remains.

The criminal complaint alleges the woman was stealing the body parts from a mortuary in Arkansas and shipping them to Pennsylvania for sale. The human remains were determined to be the property of the University of Arkansas, according to investigators.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Services spoke to sister station, 40/29 News about the incident and provided this statement:

"An employee of the mortuary service is under investigation by federal authorities for taking some human remains from the mortuary that were donated to UAMS. We are saddened and appalled that this happened."

A criminal complaint alleges Pauley admitted to purchasing two shipments of human body parts to sell to people for monetary gain.

"This is one of the most bizarre investigations I have encountered in my 33 years as a prosecutor. Just when I think I have seen it all, a case like this comes around," District Attorney Seán M. McCormack said.

Police said Pauley was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Pennsylvania man bought human body parts online, DA says

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Top Picks