United States of America v. Candace Chapman Scott

Little Rock, Arkansas criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with transporting stolen human body parts—including fetuses

Little Rock Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison After Transporting Stolen Human Remains

Candace Chapman Scott, 37, of Little Rock, was indicted for transporting stolen human body parts—including fetuses—out of Arkansas and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.



Scott, while an employee at a mortuary services provider between October 2021 through approximately July 15, 2022, stole human body parts and fetal remains. Scott would then sell the body parts and fetal remains to a purchaser in Pennsylvania.



The investigation revealed that Scott met the Pennsylvania purchaser through a Facebook group that openly discussed the sale of body parts. Ultimately, Scott sent the purchaser 24 boxes containing stolen human remains that she acquired at the mortuary provider, including two fetuses. Scott acknowledged in communications with the purchaser that ashes from other cremated bodies would be returned to the parents of the deceased fetuses, instead of ashes from their child.



The remains included a skull, multiple brains, an arm, an ear, multiple lungs, multiple hearts, multiple breasts, a belly button, testicles, and other parts. During a search warrant executed at Scott's Little Rock home, investigators found numerous stolen body parts that she admitted she transported in trash bags from her work. Scott received a total of $10,625 from the purchaser in Pennsylvania for the human remains.



"Imagine learning that the cremated remains of your child given to you after their death were not actually those of your child, because instead the FBI recovered the body of that child in another state. That is the shocking truth that happened in this case for the family of "Baby Lux,” stated Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. "Baby Lux was named 'Lux Siloam,' which means 'light sent,' and now his light has illuminated an evil and dark underworld of criminals who engage in the trafficking of stolen human bodies and body parts. And with help from the powerful testimony of Baby Lux's mother and grandmother at yesterday's sentencing hearing, the criminal responsible for the theft and trafficking of the bodies and body parts of many Arkansas victims, including Baby Lux, has been held accountable. Let today's sentence stand as a warning to anyone else committing these crimes that our office will spare no effort to find you, arrest you, and seek the harshest penalty under the law.”



"This was a truly incomprehensible and detestable crime,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. "This sentencing does not reverse the immeasurable damage that has been caused to the victimized families, however, the FBI and our partners will continuously work to ensure justice is served for all.”



Judge Miller sentenced Scott to 10 years in federal prison for interstate transportation of stolen property and 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Scott will serve both sentences concurrently for a total of 15 years. Judge Miller also sentenced Scott to a total of three years' supervised release, a fine of $10,625, and restitution in the amount of $1,800. There is no parole in the federal system.



Scott was indicted on April 5, 2023, and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property on April 25, 2024.



The case was investigated by the FBI and the Arkansas State Police, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pulaski County Coroner's Office, and the East Pennsboro Township Police Department (Pennsylvania). This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Jegley and Michael Gordon.