An amputated and embalmed leg that was sold at a North Carolina auction is to make its way back to its owner.

John Wood lost his leg in an airplane crash three years ago and, wishing it to be cremated with him when he eventually limped off of this mortal coil, he had it embalmed and kept it in a barbecue smoker, which he socked away in a storage unit. Unfortunately, Wood failed to keep up payments on the unit and the smoker was auctioned complete with leg. The initially shocked buyer of the smoker asked the authorities to remove the leg before realizing its Halloween money-making potential.

Not wanting his leg to be a conversation piece, Wood sought (and won) its return. Police decided that the leg's buyer, Shannon Whisnant, had given up ownership by calling authorities and asking them to take it away.

Reuters