Final answer:
William Burke and William Hare sold the bodies of their victims to a surgeon for dissection and study.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Burke and William Hare, known as the Burke and Hare murders, were two men who formed a partnership in Scotland in the 1820s and were responsible for killing at least 16 victims. Instead of burying the bodies, Burke and Hare sold them to a surgeon named Robert Knox for dissection and study.
This was during a time when there was a great demand for human bodies for anatomical research, but the supply was limited due to laws that restricted the use of bodies from executed criminals. Burke and Hare took advantage of this demand by killing people and selling their bodies for profit.
It is worth noting that their actions were not only illegal but also morally reprehensible. Their crimes eventually came to light, and both Burke and Hare were arrested and put on trial. Burke was sentenced to death and Hare turned state's evidence, which means he testified against Burke in exchange for immunity.