Bear 'Wrapped In Human Skin' Found At IE Gas Station: What To Know

VICTORVILLE, CA — A prank or horror-driven hoax? Whatever the reason, an Etsy Store Owner's creation of a bear wrapped in human-looking skin was found at a bus stop in Victorville on Sunday.

Shortly after noon, a caller reported finding an object "shaped like a teddy bear made of what looked like human flesh was left in front of the business, at the Bear Valley and Amethyst roads ARCO station," San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Mara Rodriguez told Patch.

Read: 'Human-Skin Teddy Bear' Found Outside IE ARCO: Artist Shares Diabolical Details

Officers arrived to block off the area surrounding the macabre bear with caution tape, and the coroner's investigator took possession of the object. Officers described it as "a teddy bear patched together from flesh," she said.

An investigator with the San Bernardino County Coroner's office responded and collected what officials called a "macabre teddy bear."

They determined that "the teddy bear was constructed of man-made materials and contained no human tissue," Rodriguez told Patch. "The investigation into who left the teddy bear at the business is continuing."

A man who designed and created the skin-bear, which he says is made of realistic-looking latex, shared this fact over Facebook, and with Patch. Horror artist Robert Kelly and partner Tara Stiffler sell realistic-looking skin designs on Etsy under the store name Dark Seed Creations.

The artist confirmed with Patch that he had shipped the bearto a customer in Victorville, where it was found Sunday.

"LMAO someone played a joke with one of my bears LOL," Kelly wrote on his Dark Seed Creations Facebook page. He later clarified writing:

"So here is the basics.
Yes I made the bear in the news video.
Yes that's my etsy shop screenshotted on the news articles.
Yes I did ship that bear to an etsy customer in Victorville CA last week.
Yes you can still order one too
No I did not have any knowledge of the buyers intentions nor was I involved in a prank on the other side of the nation from me."

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

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'Human-Skin Teddy Bear' Found Outside IE ARCO: Artist Shares Diabolical Details