New law makes corpse tampering a felony
Messing with evidence could come with more consequences soon.

Crime scene of a murder case. 3D illustration
That conduct used to merit a first-degree misdemeanor charge.

Floridians will face stronger deterrents for manipulating or mishandling dead bodies at crime scenes under legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday.

Rep. Mike Giallombardo’s HB 1653 makes it a third degree penalty for those who, absent “an order from the office of the district medical examiner,” decides to “willfully” touch, remove, or disturb “the body, clothing, or any article upon or near the body.”

That conduct used to merit a first-degree misdemeanor charge.

Speaking of first-degree misdemeanors, that’s still the penalty for failure to report deaths to the medical examiner or a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the crime scene, along with concealing evidence from the same.

The law, passed unanimously by the House and Senate, takes effect in July. And a legislative committee analyses notes that it may lead to more people in prison for longer stretches, based on a February analysis by the Criminal Justice Impact Conference considered the bill on February 12, 2024 that suggested “increased admissions and longer terms of incarceration in such facilities” may lead to an “indeterminate positive impact” on the prison population.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


9 comments

  • Huh

    April 27, 2024 at 4:23 pm

    When my mother died one of the coroners office or EMT’s stole her wedding ring off her finger. We never got it back. Then when we buried her the funeral director took the jewelry off her body and pocketed it and gave it to someone else who was not with the family. The only reason we got that back was someone saw the exchange happen and sounded the alarm. But by then she had been buried without them. 2 crimes against the woman after she was already dead. Would this law apply? We were told it happens more often than you might think. No im not smearing those fine professions but it happens. BTW, Why is the FL G0P so creepy? Really people, it’s getting weird. Can you just please focus on insurance rates and cost of living??

    Reply

  • Julia

    April 27, 2024 at 5:04 pm

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  • Richard D

    April 27, 2024 at 6:46 pm

    A “positive impact” on the prison population probably means a positive impact on the amount of public funds prisons receive per inmate. More inmates means more public money for the prison/industrial complex.

    Reply

  • Earl Pitts "RON'S OFFICIAL "UNOFFICIAL VPOTUS CAMPAIGN MANAGER" American

    April 27, 2024 at 9:11 pm

    Good evening Florida,
    This is another Sage Law which I, Earl Pitts American, did a through and compleat Legislative Review on prior to us introduceing the Law on the Floor of the House & Senate back at the begining of legislative session.
    We cleaned up the launguage a bit as the new law is not about stealing dead folks jewelry its about Dook 4 Brains Leftist Perverts having “Necro” sex with the dead.
    These “Necro” Perves researched out to be 99.986% Dook 4 Brains Leftists Registared to vote as ….. you already know ….. Democrats.
    These Perves will be held in a seperate “Necro” wing of each prison so as not to turn the good honest non-perve regular prisoners on to “Necrophelia”.
    Thanks Florida,
    Earl Pitts American

    Reply

    • Speedy Gonzalez

      April 27, 2024 at 9:26 pm

      Senior Earl my cousin Slopoke says in our country we dont spend pesos on the necro perves we spend about .63 Cents of your American money on a .22 Cal long rifle cartradge to the back of their heads. If their families dont want their perve relatives bodies they get planted in a $6.73 american money equlivant body bag from Temu out behind the prison. Thats a total $7.36 of your USA money we spend.
      Speedy & SloPoke

      Reply

      • Earl Pitts "RON'S OFFICIAL "UNOFFICIAL VPOTUS CAMPAIGN MANAGER" American

        April 27, 2024 at 9:59 pm

        Thanks guys that is going on the “Legislative Back-Burner” until after Our Sage Nation gets past this upcoming POTUS/VPOTUS instalation of Trump/DeSantis.
        We will run your Country’s economical methods up the “Flag-Pole” for Florida’s next Legislative Session to see who “Salutes That Flag”.
        While I cant promise Florida will adopt such legislation that $7.36 is sure lookin good for Florida in these 8iden-Nomics times of Trial & Tribulation.
        Thsnks guys, EPA

        Reply

        • Rick Whitaker

          April 28, 2024 at 11:51 am

          WACK JOB

          Reply

  • Ocean Joe

    April 29, 2024 at 5:49 am

    Another law passed by Florida to protect Joe Biden.

    Dead or alive he remains preferable to the bloated conman from hell.

    Reply

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