
Law enforcement officials recently arrested a 39-year-old Kentucky man after a distressing discovery of human remains was made at his residence.
Authorities stumbled upon a collection of 40 human skulls in James Nott’s Mt. Washington home, along with other body parts – a discovery which is part of an FBI investigation aimed at uncovering a widespread theft of body parts from Harvard Medical School’s morgue.
FBI agents say as many as 40 skulls were found in the suspect's home.
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The agency found that Nott had allegedly purchased these illicit human remains from a Pennsylvania man named Jeremey Pauley. A further look into the source of the remains pointed to a woman who had stolen them from cadavers donated to the medical school for research and education purposes.
According to investigators, Pauley used the popular PayPal online banking service to pay the woman for hearts, lungs, brains, and even two fetal specimens. The transactions left an electronic trail that ultimately led the authorities to Nott’s doorstep.
Inside Nott’s residence, FBI agents discovered not only the 40 human skulls but also spinal cords, hip bones, and femurs. Shockingly, some of the skulls were even made into aesthetic pieces for the home.
Special Agent Sara J. Cunning described the scene, stating, “The skulls were decorated around the furniture. One skull had a head scarf around it. One skull was located on the mattress where Nott slept. A Harvard Medical School bag was found inside the Residence.”
Adding to the eerie nature of the case, the FBI uncovered a range of disturbing items alongside the human remains, including various firearms (including an AK-47), inert grenades, and body armor plates.
Some of the discovered remains were traced back to the Harvard Medical School and a mortuary in Arkansas.
Speaking out against the incident, United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam condemned the theft and trafficking of human remains, emphasizing the violation of the donors’ intentions. “The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human,” he stated.
“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,” he added.
Nott, a convicted felon with prior gun charges in 2011, had also been linked to a nationwide trafficking ring involving stolen human remains. Using the alias “William Burke” on Facebook, Nott reportedly engaged in the purchase and sale of human bones.
The investigation into his activities began after his interactions with Pauley, who was already under scrutiny for his role in the trafficking ring. Authorities found videos and pictures of the remains which he sent to Pauley.
Nott is currently held in custody at the Oldham County jail and faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm as a prohibited person due to his previous felony conviction. However, it remains unclear what specific charges he will face in connection to the possession of the human remains.
In regard to his sentencing, authorities emphasized that a federal district court judge will ultimately determine his sentence based on the applicable guidelines and statutory factors.