Photo: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP / Getty Images
Authorities in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, are investigating the discovery of a human hand at a UPS facility in Middletown. The hand was found inside an unmarked package on August 17, 2025, but a report was not filed until March 10, 2026, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
The hand, was discovered wrapped in bubble wrap inside a brown box with no identifying labels. The Dauphin County Coroner's Office and Lower Swatara Township Police Department are leading the investigation. Deputy Coroner Tommy Reinhart stated that the hand had no identifying markings or jewelry. Efforts to rehydrate the hand for fingerprint analysis were unsuccessful, so a DNA sample has been sent for testing in hopes of identifying the individual and locating any family members.
Lower Swatara Police Chief Thomas Bell noted that the package might have been legally possessed and sold, possibly intended for medical or research purposes. However, if the hand is linked to a crime, the police could assume control of the investigation. The case is not currently classified as a crime, as buying and selling human remains is legal in Pennsylvania and most states, despite ethical concerns.
For more information, visit the CBS 21 CLICK HERE