‘Human blood artist’ sentenced to probation in body parts trafficking case

A self-described “human blood artist” from Pennsylvania has been sentenced to two years of probation in connection with the peddling of body parts from Harvard University and an Arkansas mortuary.

Jeremy Pauley, 42, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty on Jan. 8 to abuse of a corpse, Fox 43 reported.

In September 2023, he pleaded guilty separately in federal court to interstate transport of stolen property and conspiracy to interstate transport of stolen property for buying and selling body parts.

He was initially charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

Pauley, who lives in Susquehanna County, was arrested in the summer of 2022 after police said they found five-gallon buckets containing body parts inside his then-home in Enola.

The self-described “collector of oddities” could have his two years of supervised probation changed to one year supervised and then one year unsupervised for good behavior, WGAL reported.

The investigation of the heavily tattooed body modification artist began when police received a call about suspicious activity at a home on North Enola Road, Fox 43 reported.

Authorities were tipped off that a suspect, later identified as Pauley, was buying human body parts and selling them on Facebook.

The oddball allegedly told investigators during an interview that he had three full human skeletons and about 15 to 20 skulls, according to a complaint cited by the outlet.

Pauley claimed the human remains were purchased legally, according to authorities.  

He reportedly admitted to being part of a network of people who bought and sold body parts that had been stolen from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary between 2018 and 2022.

Seven other people have been charged as part of the probe.

Pauley had posted pictures of bags and piles of femurs, vertebrae, clavicles, ribs and human teeth for sale on his Facebook page, called “The Grand Wunderkammer.”

“Vendors of the odd and unusual, museum exhibits, guest lectures, live entertainment, and so much more! Strange, curious, and unique in every way possible!” the page description read.

Police initially found what they described as older human remains that they determined were lawfully obtained, but after a second tip about newer remains in Pauley’s home, investigators found additional purchases.

They found assorted body parts, including two brains, human skin and fat, a heart, a kidney, livers, lungs, a trachea and a child’s mandible with teeth, according to a criminal complaint.

Federal and authorities later intercepted packages addressed to Pauley from an Arkansas woman that allegedly contained body parts.

Pauley’s federal sentencing has not yet been scheduled.