A Kentucky man has been arrested after authorities discovered a disturbing collection of 40 human skulls and other body parts at his residence in Mt. Washington.
The investigation leading to this discovery was initiated by the FBI, who were looking into the theft of body parts from the morgue at Harvard Medical School.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old James Nott, allegedly obtained the human remains from a Pennsylvania man named Jeremey Pauley. Pauley, in turn, had acquired the body parts from a woman who had stolen them from cadavers donated to the medical school for research and education purposes. The transactions between Nott and Pauley were reportedly facilitated through the online banking service PayPal.
Aside from the 40 human skulls, FBI agents also found human spinal cords, hip bones, and femurs at Nott's residence. Shockingly, some of the skulls were found to be decorated. The search also yielded a Harvard Medical School bag, various firearms including an AK-47, inert grenades, and body armor plates.
United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam expressed his strong condemnation of the case, stating, "The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. It is particularly egregious that so many of the victims here volunteered to allow their remains to be used to educate medical professionals and advance the interests of science and healing. For them and their families to be taken advantage of in the name of profit is appalling."
Nott has been taken into custody and is currently being held at the Oldham County jail. He has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. When questioned by an FBI agent about whether there were any other individuals present in his apartment, Nott chillingly responded, "Only my dead friends."
This shocking case highlights the need for stricter regulations and security measures to prevent the theft and trafficking of human remains. The violation of the trust placed in medical institutions and the exploitation of those who generously donated their bodies for scientific advancement is a deeply disturbing and reprehensible act.
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