Melbourne woman tried selling human toes on Facebook

A Melbourne woman narrowly avoided jail after admitting to offensive conduct involving human remains. Joanna Kathlyn Kinman, 48, was accused of searching for and taking human toes from vomit that two dogs brought up after eating parts of a deceased man’s body. The incident happened in February 2024 when Kinman was working at an animal shelter. After the death of a man whose identity is protected, his dogs ingested parts of his body, including his toes. Kinman, curious about the body parts, searched in trash bins for the toes and found them. She then took them home with the intention of selling them online for about $400. Police were alerted by an anonymous tip-off and arrested her at her home in Lilydale. In court, it was revealed that Kinman placed the toes in a jar with formaldehyde after bringing them home. She has a background in psychology and animal science and had previously sold animal remains through a Facebook group called "Bone Buddies Australia." Kinman pleaded guilty to the charges in court, where the magistrate called her actions "entirely odd." He sentenced her to an 18-month community corrections order, including 150 hours of community service. He noted that her actions were surprising given her education and experience. Kinman’s lawyer argued she regretted her actions and recognized the impact on both her family and the deceased man's relatives. No comments were made after the court session, and she avoided a potential two-year prison sentence.