§653. Opening graves; stealing body; receiving same

            A. Every person who removes the dead body of a human being or any part thereof from a cemetery space where the same has been interred or is awaiting interment or cremation, without authority of law, with intent to sell the same, or for the purposes of securing a reward for its return, or for dissection, or from malice or wantonness, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both.

            B. Whoever purchases or receives, except for interment or cremation, any such dead body or any part thereof, knowing that the same has been removed in violation of this Section, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both.

            C. Whoever opens a cemetery space, temporary or otherwise, or a building where a dead body is deposited while awaiting interment or cremation, with intent to remove said body or any part thereof, for the purpose of selling or demanding money or any other thing of value for the same, for dissection, from malice or wantonness, or with intent to sell or remove the coffin or of any part thereof, or anything attached thereto, or any vestment or other article interred or intended to be interred with the body, shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than three years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both.

            Acts 1974, No. 417, §1; Acts 2022, No. 574, §1.