Grizzly discovery as teddy bear 'wrapped in human skin' found dumped in front of convenience store

Daily Mail​

14-07-2025

A teddy bear that appeared to have been wrapped in human skin and then dumped outside a gas station in California, made for a disturbing find for customers and led to a full-scale response by sheriff's deputies and a coroner.
The discovery was made just after noon on Sunday in the small town of Victorville and saw San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies dispatched to the scene just after 12:30pm after receiving a 911 call that 'human remains' had been found.
The scene left customers and law enforcement stunned as deputies quickly cordoned off the parking lot with crime scene tape while stunned bystanders looked on.
Photos from the scene show a teddy bear slumped outside the store entrance, isolated behind yellow tape.
The object was described as having a human-like face stitched onto its head and patches of skin-like material sewn across its torso appearing grotesque, but lifelike.
The coroner's investigator could be seen delicately handling the bear with gloved hands, carefully turning it over before slipping it into a pink plastic evidence bag.
'A coroner investigator has taken possession of the object, and the investigation is continuing,' Sheriff's Department spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said in a statement.
Although officials have yet to confirm whether the material is actually human skin, a Facebook post by an artist appeared to take credit for the item, calling it a misunderstood piece of horror art made from latex.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies were dispatched to the scene just after 12:30pm after receiving a 911 call that 'human remains' had been found
'You can't make this s*** up!' read the post on a page called DarkSeed Creations.
'One of my skin teddy bears has apparently been involved in a prank that brought police attention! This is f***** wild!'
The man behind DarkSeed Creations is South Carolina-based artist Robert Kelly, who spoke to DailyMail.com early on Monday morning.
'I'm still figuring out what is all happening,' Kelly said. 'It was just a regular order - we never expected this. We don't condone a prank that causes any illegal activity, but every artist wants credit for their work.'
Kelly describes himself as the 'purveyor of the perverse... manipulator of the macabre... developer of the diabolical.'
For the last 20 years, he has created 'grotesque art for the haunted attraction industry', including skin-like teddy bears and dolls intentionally designed to shock.
Indeed, an item nearly identical to the Victorville bear had been spotted for sale on Etsy, advertised as a 'human skin teddy bear' crafted with synthetic materials to simulate gore.
A screenshot of the $165 listing shows a disfigured bear with distorted features and fleshy textures eerily similar to the one found outside the AMPM store.
Kelly confirmed that he made the bear seen in the news video and that he did in fact ship the bear to an Etsy customer in Victorville, California last week
'Yes you can still order one too.' he added. 'I did not have any knowledge of the buyers intentions nor was I involved in a prank on the other side of the nation from me.'
Despite the rising possibility of a disturbing prank or artistic stunt gone awry, law enforcement is proceeding cautiously.
The Sheriff's Department has not ruled out any possibilities, including whether the material could still be authentic.
Authorities say forensic testing is underway, and no arrests have been made.