Australian Woman Caught Trying to Sell Human Toes Vomited by Dogs, Avoids Jail
A woman in Melbourne, Australia, nearly landed in prison after authorities discovered she tried to sell human toes online—toes that had been vomited up by dogs at an animal shelter.
Joanna Kathlyn Kinman, 48, worked as a ranger at a Victorian animal shelter when the gruesome incident unfolded. Two dogs at the shelter threw up human toes after having fed on their deceased owner’s body before being surrendered. Instead of reporting the remains, Kinman did what any totally sane person would do—dug through the trash, retrieved the toes, and took them home to sell.
When police raided her home, they found the toes preserved in formaldehyde—stored next to an alligator claw, a bird skull, a guinea pig trotter, and her children’s baby teeth. She was also an active seller in a Facebook group called “Bone Buddies Australia,” where she had previously sold “wet specimens” of a stillborn kitten and puppy.
Authorities charged Kinman with offensive conduct involving human remains. She pleaded guilty in Ringwood Magistrates Court and was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and 150 hours of community service.
The judge did not hold back, telling her: “By the barest of possible margins, you will not be going to jail today.” He also called her actions “astonishing” and questioned how someone with her experience and education wouldn’t realize selling human toes is kind of a big no-no.
Kinman, who lost her job over the incident, declined to comment outside the courtroom.
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