Lawmaker wants law against necrophilia

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (AP) -- A lawmaker says he will propose a law to outlaw necrophilia in Wisconsin after the attempted robbery of a grave in Cassville.

Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said he was stunned to learn there isn't such a law in effect in the state, which he said leaves law enforcement with few tools to use in such cases.

Twin brothers Alexander and Nicholas Grunke, 20, of Ridgeway, and Dustin Radke, 20, of Dodgeville, have been charged in Grant County Circuit Court with attempted third-degree sexual assault and attempted misdemeanor theft in the incident last Saturday at St. Charles Cemetery in Cassville.

Someone had called police after seeing suspicious activity. Authorities said they found a hole had been dug down to the vault of 20-year-old Laura Tennessen, who was killed in a motorcycle accident Aug. 27, but the vault had not been opened.


Sheriff Keith Govier said the three never had any contact with Tennessen but had seen a newspaper obituary on her death, which included a photo.

Court documents quoted Radke as saying Nicholas Grunke had wanted to find her grave and asked him to help because he wanted to dig the body up for sex.

Attempted third-degree sexual assault carries up to five years in prison and a fine of $12,500, and the theft charge carries up to four months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Laws against necrophilia in other states carry penalties of up to eight years.

Umm. Do I even need to comment on this?

I wonder how popular they will be in prison. What do their parents think?