Kentucky Woman Opens Package To Find Human Body Parts After Shipping Mix-Up
HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY — A Hopkinsville woman was left shaken after opening what she believed was a shipment of urgent medical supplies — only to discover human body parts inside.
According to Christian County Coroner Scott Daniel, the incident occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when the woman received a box that had been mistakenly delivered to her home. Inside, she found two human arms and four fingers, carefully packed in ice and labeled as medical material.
Coroner Confirms Parts Were for Medical Training
Daniel told radio station WKDZ that the body parts were legitimate medical cadaver specimens intended for surgical training, not for transplant or any criminal use.
“We never know what kind of call we’re going to get — but last night was a little different,” Daniel said. “A resident here in Hopkinsville opened the box thinking it was medical supplies, and when she looked inside, she found human arms and fingers.”
The woman, described as “obviously a little shook,” immediately contacted the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the home and turned the package over to the coroner’s office.
Courier Error Caused Misdelivery
Investigators determined that the package originated from Nashville, Tennessee, and was intended for a medical research facility or surgical training program. Officials said a courier routing error caused the delivery to be sent to the wrong address in Hopkinsville.
The coroner’s office worked with the shipping carrier to ensure the cadaver parts were transported safely to their intended destination.
Daniel added that the woman eventually received the medical supplies she had actually ordered, and that no crime was suspected.
Officials Urge Awareness in Medical Deliveries
While rare, such misdeliveries highlight potential issues with the shipping of sensitive biological materials. Authorities confirmed that all safety and chain-of-custody procedures were followed after the discovery.
“It’s not something we deal with every day, but thankfully, everything was handled professionally,” Daniel said.
The Hopkinsville incident comes just days before Halloween, adding an eerie twist to what officials called a “simple but unsettling mix-up.”
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