Fort Collins Tampering with a Deceased Human Body Attorney
Pair Charged with Abandoning Body

A couple has been charged with Tampering with a Deceased Human Body for moving a man's body out of the home he fatally overdosed in and into a car. Read more here.

In Fort Collins and Larimer County, there are a few crimes related to deceased human bodies including: Tampering with a Deceased Human Body and Abuse of a Corpse. The first is a serious felony and the other is a misdemeanor. A couple are facing the more serious charge for moving and abandoning a man’s body after he fatally overdosed. It is alleged the body was moved from a home to a nearby car by the couple in question.

Larimer County Tampering with a Deceased Human Body Lawyer: Definition of Tampering with a Deceased Human Body

The Larimer and Boulder County, Colorado law definition of Tampering with a Deceased Human Body – C.R.S. 18-8-610.5 – is:

A person commits tampering with a deceased human body if, believing that an official proceeding is pending, in progress, or about to be instituted and acting without legal right or authority, the person willfully destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or alters a human body, part of a human body, or human remains with intent to impair its or their appearance or availability in the official proceedings.

This crime is charged as a felony because of the intent behind the actions. It is seen as an act of obstruction or covering something up, making it more difficult for officials to determine what happened. Maybe the couple had provided the man with the drugs he overdosed on and they were worried about being connected to the death. Or possibly, they just wanted to avoid any police interaction. Whatever the reason, they are facing the class 3 felony charge.

Abuse of a Corpse in Fort Collins and Loveland

In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Abuse of a Corpse – C.R.S. 18-13-101 – is defined as:

A person commits abuse of a corpse if, without statutory or court-ordered authority, he or she:

(a) Removes the body or remains of any person from a grave or other place of sepulcher without the consent of the person who has the right to dispose of the remains pursuant to section 15-19-106, C.R.S; or

(b) Treats the body or remains of any person in a way that would outrage normal family sensibilities.

This statute basically covers the handling of a deceased human body when there is no intent to impair police proceedings. Abuse of a Corpse is a class 2 misdemeanor.

If you or someone you love has been charged with Tampering with a Deceased Human Body, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash