17-04-2025
Human bones were sold by store dealing in ‘the dark and macabre,' FL cops say
A Florida family known for dealing in 'the dark and macabre' had real human bones included in its peculiar line of products, according to investigators in Florida.
The suspects — Kymerlee Schopper and Ashley Lelesi — have been charged with knowingly offering to sell human organs/tissue via their store, Wicked Wonderland, Orange City police said in a news release.
The two are mother and daughter and 'both come from a medical background,' according to the Wicked Wonderland website.
Orange City police say they were arrested the second week of April, at the conclusion of a four-month investigation.
'The Orange City Police Department received information regarding a local Orange City business allegedly selling human bones on Facebook Marketplace,' police said in an April 16 news release.
'Through further investigation, the bones were confirmed to be human and originating from more than one individual. The items were being sold by business owners Ashley Lelesi and Kymerlee Schopper .... through their business Wicked Wonderland.'
Investigators did not offer details of how many people the bones belonged to.
Wicked Wonderland, which remains in business, posted a cryptic statement on April 15 noting 'there may be a whirlwind of misguiding information and horrendous assumptions and opinions' about the store.
'Life unfolds in many phases — some calm and peaceful, others chaotic and challenging. At times, multiple hardships may arise at once,' the store wrote on Facebook.
'In the face of adversity, we are neither retreating nor hiding. We choose to confront these trials with dignity and resolve.'
Among the items sold at the store: iron coffin nails, iron railroad spikes and 'diaphonized' fetal mice preserved in jewelry.
Customers can also learn how to cast spells and hexes, the store says.
'At Wicked Wonderland, we believe in embracing the peculiar, the odd, and the misunderstood. Because at the heart of hatred lies the potential for curiosity. And if curiosity killed anything, it's hatred, boredom, and fear,' the store's website says.
'Join us on a journey down our rabbit hole of curiosities, where the oddities of the world become the keys to unlocking a deeper appreciation for the diverse tapestry of existence.'
Orange City is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Orlando.
