PEABODY — The FBI swept through a business at Mills 58 in the city Tuesday, and searched a residence in neighboring Salem as part of an ongoing investigation, officials said.
“The FBI conducted law enforcement activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation,” an FBI spokeswoman said in a statement. “To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we’re going to refrain from commenting on its substance. However, there is no threat to public safety.”
The searches were conducted at Kat’s Creepy Creations inside the Pulaski Street complex, and at a residence on Pleasant Street in Salem.
The store sells “creepy dolls, oddities, [and] bone art,” according to its Instagram page. A message sent to the store was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.
The Instagram page describes “creations that shock the mind and shake the soul,” and features numerous images of dolls with disturbing faces painted on them. Several posts on the page reference human remains, including one from February 2020 that depicts a doll sitting behind a “real human skull.”
“If you’re in the market for human bones hit me up!” the post reads.
Another post from December 2019 advertises “cool displays showcasing 11 real human vertebrae in each one.”
In a statement posted to Facebook, Mills 58 wrote that the business owner granted the FBI permission to enter their business suite Tuesday.
“This is an isolated incident and is unrelated to the remaining Mills 58 businesses and property ownership. Thank you,” the statement said.
A connection between the store and the residence was not immediately clear.
