Lilydale mum Joanna Kinman admits to planning to sell dead man’s toes vomited up by dogs

An animal shelter worker who tried to sell two human toes online for $400 after they were vomited up by dogs had previously sold a stillborn kitten and puppy via a Facebook “skull and bone” enthusiast group.

Joanna Kinman, 47, has admitted to planning to sell human toes on the black market. Picture: Supplied

An animal shelter worker who planned to sell human toes on the black market for $400 after they were vomited up by dogs was a member of a Facebook group for “skull and bone enthusiasts”.

Joanna Kinman, 48, fronted the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Monday where she admitted to the sickening crime and details of her previous sales of animal specimens, including a stillborn kitten, were revealed.

The Herald Sun last year revealed the Lilydale mum had been charged with offensive conduct involving human remains in August following a six-month criminal investigation.

She avoided jail by the skin of her teeth on Monday afternoon, with Magistrate Andrew Sim sentencing her to an 18-month community corrections order with conviction after she pleaded guilty to the charge.

“By the barest of possible margins, you will not be going to jail,” he said.

Joanna Kinman leaves Ringwood Magistrates' Court on Monday. Picture: Laura Placella

The court heard Kinman, who was employed as a ranger, was volunteering at a shelter when two dogs “vomited up” human remains, including two toes, on February 19 last year.

Leading Senior Constable Melissa Sambrooks told the court the remains belonged to a man who had been deceased “for some time”.

It is understood he died of natural causes before his foot was chewed up by one or two of his beloved pets, who were brought to the shelter following the discovery of his body.

“The accused became aware of the situation and the fact human remains had been vomited up by the dogs and discarded in wheelie bins,” Constable Sambrooks said.

The court heard Kinman fished the two toes out of the bin, before returning home to place them in a jar filled with formaldehyde with the intention of selling them on the black market.

“She explained (to her daughter) she had researched it and thought she could get $400 for them,” Constable Sambrooks said.

Kinman pleaded guilty to offensive conduct involving human remains.

One day later, detectives attended her home following a tip-off and asked her whether she was in possession of any human remains.

She pointed to a shelf, with the jar scattered among others containing a guinea pig trotter, an alligator claw, bird skull and the baby teeth of her children.

The court heard she was a member of a Facebook group called Bone Buddies Australia, which describes itself as a site for “skull and bone enthusiasts” and “like-minded people who share an appreciation of the natural world”.

Constable Sambrooks said Kinman was an “avid contributor” to the group, having sold multiple items, including a “wet specimen” of a stillborn kitten and a stillborn puppy.

“She also engages in online discussion … about dead roadkill and a television show focused on the buying and selling of human remains,” she said.

The mum confessed to detectives she took the remains because she knew someone “who collects weird things” and thought to herself: “Cool, it’s a toe.”

Kinman pleaded guilty at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court.

Her defence lawyer Rainer Martini argued his client should be sentenced to a CCO given her limited criminal history and the fact she did not “seek out” the remains.

“She acknowledges she was very insensitive,” he said. “She has expressed enormous regret.”

The court heard Kinman did not understand at the time she was committing a criminal offence and had also considered giving away the toes, but Mr Martini conceded it was “reprehensible” conduct that should not have occurred.

“I find it remarkable that the accused … would not have understood taking two toes … and trying to potentially sell them online or give them to someone would (constitute) a criminal offence,” Mr Sim said.

Mr Martini added that his client had lost her job and was subjected to “online abuse” since the Herald Sun reported the allegations against her.

Constable Sambrooks said while a CCO would be the “starting point”, a term of imprisonment was within range.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail.

Dressed in a white knitted poncho with her red hair pulled into a ponytail, Kinman was supported in court by her 17-year-old son.

Mr Sim told Kinman her offending was both “entirely perplexing” and “entirely shocking”.

“I am satisfied … you did take those toes for commercial gain,” he said.

He added: “The (deceased man) would have expected to be treated with dignity and respect by any person who came into contact with his remains. You failed to do that.”

She was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work as part of the CCO.

The animal shelter has confirmed she is no longer associated with the organisation.

A suppression order prohibits the media from identifying the animal shelter or the deceased man.

His remains have been seized and handed over to the Coroner’s Court.

His son was alerted to the gruesome discovery, but the court heard he has chosen not to tell extended family because they would be “distraught”.

Kinman refused to answer any questions as she left court.