Real human skull in Florida shop's Halloween section sends sleuths searching for body

A trip to a charity shop in Florida took an unexpected turn when an eagle-eyed anthropologist discovered a human skull in the Halloween section.

After the discovery of a human skull in a Florida shop, detectives were called, and they agreed that the skull was likely human. The store owner explained that it had been in storage for several years after being purchased. 

Authorities in North Fort Myers, approximately 160 miles northwest of Miami, are investigating the discovery in collaboration with the local medical examiner. While officials do not suspect foul play, they will conduct further examinations.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office added some humour to the situation on social media, describing it as a "twist of not-so-humerus events." Florida law prohibits the sale or purchase of human organs or tissues for valuable consideration, including eyes, corneas, kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, pancreas, bones, and skin.

A similar discovery occurred in Arizona in September when a human skull was found in a donation box at a Goodwill charity store. Experts determined it was human but likely ancient and unrelated to crime. 

While such findings can be unsettling, skulls discovered by researchers have fascinated anthropologists and contributed to our understanding of human evolution. In 2019, a nearly complete 3.8 million-year-old skull was unearthed in Ethiopia, providing insights into the species that gave rise to early humans.