By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 11, 2010
TAMPA — As Mitchell and Judith Fletcher decorated for Halloween, they noticed something odd about their new skeleton prop.
It appeared to be made of real human bones.
The Tampa couple called deputies, which arrived at their house to find a full anatomical skeleton. It most likely was made for academic study, the Sheriff's Office said Monday.
The couple told deputies they bought the skeleton several weeks ago at an estate sale. They thought it was plastic.
But last week, as they decorated, they began to think otherwise.
Deputies went to the house on Lime Tree Road and took the skeleton. They found a serial number on the femur.
The skeleton was turned over to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation.
