A Horrifying Crime
While working for a mortuary services provider, Scott exploited her position to steal human remains—including fetuses, skulls, brains, hearts, and lungs—from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Anatomical Gift Program. These remains, generously donated by grieving families for medical research, were sold instead to Jeremy Lee Pauley, a Pennsylvania man with a known fascination for "oddities."

The duo met in a Facebook group openly trading human remains. Over the course of nine months, Scott shipped 24 boxes of stolen body parts to Pauley, earning $10,625 via PayPal. That’s right—body parts, intended for scientific study, were sold online as if they were collectibles on a dark, twisted marketplace.

A Heartbreaking Betrayal
Among the stolen remains was “Baby Lux,” a fetus whose body was supposed to be cremated and returned to the family. Instead, Scott sold Baby Lux’s remains to Pauley. The betrayal left the family shattered.

“Imagine being told you received your child’s ashes, only to find out their body was sold and shipped across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. In court, Baby Lux’s mother, Doneysha Smith, wept as she described her anguish: “My son was treated like merchandise, packaged and shipped as if he wasn’t human.”

The Sentence: Justice or Not Enough?
Judge Miller sentenced Scott to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $10,625 fine, and $1,800 in restitution. While the sentence is severe, many wonder if it’s enough to atone for the profound pain inflicted on the families and the violation of their trust.

Uncovering a Dark Underground
This case exposes a sinister underground trade in human remains, echoing other scandals, including one at Harvard Medical School. It reveals a horrifying truth: even in death, individuals can become victims of exploitation.

Jeremy Pauley, Scott’s buyer, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. His involvement raises a troubling question: How many others are operating in this grotesque network, exploiting the dead for profit?

The Bigger Picture
Candace Chapman Scott’s sentencing may bring some closure, but it cannot erase the trauma inflicted on the families. As FBI Special Agent Alicia D. Corder said, “No prison sentence can undo the immeasurable damage done.”

This chilling case underscores the urgent need for tighter oversight and accountability in anatomical donation programs. If the dead cannot be safeguarded, what does that say about our ability to protect the living?