Box Of Human Heads Found At Chicago Airport

SKY NEWS [15/01/13]

Customs officials were unsure at first whether more than a dozen human heads shipped from Rome were legitimate anatomical samples.

The discovery was made on Monday at O'Hare Airport in Chicago

Investigators are confused why a package containing 18 human heads was flagged by US Customs officials at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

Initially it seems it was unclear whether the heads - which were reportedly still covered in skin - were legitimate anatomical specimens.

But authorities have now concluded that they were properly frozen, wrapped and tagged as human specimens, and were on their way to a local crematorium.

The heads had been sent to Chicago from a research facility in Rome.

A spokeswoman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, Mary Paleologos has said foul play was not suspected.

"There's no issue with the transportation of body parts for medical purposes," said Brian Bell, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

"There's nothing against the law that says you cannot ship them, provided you have the right documentation."

The body parts had been sent to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office for further investigation and were being stored there until officials decide what to do with them, authorities said.

Mr Bell added: "Everybody here is 'oh my gosh, you got a box of heads' and everybody thinks that it's unheard of.

"It is a potentially legitimate medical shipment. We've seen it at various ports in the nation."