Former Arkansas Mortuary Worker Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Body Parts

In a recent development, a former mortuary worker from Arkansas, Candace Chapman Scott, has pleaded guilty to charges of selling stolen body parts obtained from medical school cadavers. The case has been described by prosecutors as part of a larger nationwide scheme involving the theft and sale of human body parts.

Guilty Plea and Charges

Candace Chapman Scott, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property in federal court. This comes after she initially pleaded not guilty when indicted in the case last year.

Background and Indictment

The indictment, which was unsealed last year, accused Scott of orchestrating the sale of stolen body parts in 24 boxes to Jeremy Pauley, a Pennsylvania man she met through a Facebook group about "oddities." Pauley had also pleaded guilty to charges related to the theft and sale of body parts from both the Arkansas mortuary and Harvard Medical School.

Employment and Allegations

Scott was employed at Arkansas Central Mortuary Services, where her responsibilities included the transportation, cremation, and embalming of remains. It was revealed that the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock sent the remains of cadavers, donated for medical students' examination, to this facility.

Legal Consequences

As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors dropped 10 wire and mail charges against Scott. She now faces potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for transporting stolen property, and up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the mail fraud charge. A sentencing date for Scott has not been set at this time.