Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-11-13 (2026)
Abuse of Corpse.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, laws through the 2026 Regular Session
(a) A person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if, except as otherwise authorized by law, he knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities. Abuse of a corpse may include knowingly and willfully signing a certificate as having embalmed, cremated, or prepared a human body for disposition when, in fact, the services were not performed as indicated.
(b) Abuse of a corpse is a Class C felony.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5560; Act 2002-239, p. 498, §1.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1986–2026 · leading case: Lewis v. State, 889 So. 2d 623 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003).
Lewis v. State, 889 So. 2d 623 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). “1995) ("In denying the petition, this Court does not address dicta in the Court of Criminal Appeals opinion suggesting that, under the circumstances of this case, it would be proper to instruct the jury regarding the offense of `abuse of corpse,' § 13A-11-13, Ala.Code 1975, as a…”
Hutcherson v. State, 677 So. 2d 1174 (Ala. Crim. App. 1994). “For a definition of what constitutes a lesser included offense see § 13A-1-9. The court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on "abuse of corpse.”
Thompson v. Nagle, 118 F.3d 1442 (11th Cir. 1997). “” Ala.Code 13A-11-13(a) (1975). 3 . Even if the evidence were insufficient to support Thompson’s rape conviction, that would not affect the sentence of death in this case.”
Matter of Poole Funeral Chapel, Inc., 63 B.R. 527 (Bankr. N.D. Ala. 1986). “” Earlier criminal code sections defined specific crimes involving removal of dead bodies and violation of graves. Code of Alabama 1940 (Recomp.”
Padgett v. State, 668 So. 2d 78 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995). “" Section 13A-11-13, Code of Alabama 1975. The appellant's theory of the case is that if he did not commit the crime of rape, then he cannot be convicted of capital murder as charged in the indictment, and he would not be subject to the death penalty.”
Padgett v. State, 668 So. 2d 88 (Ala. 1995). “In denying the petition, this Court does not address dicta in the Court of Criminal Appeals opinion suggesting that, under the circumstances of this case, it would be proper to instruct the jury regarding the offense of “abuse of corpse,” § 13A-11-13, Ala.Code 1975, as a lesser…”
State v. Stephens, 203 So. 3d 134 (Ala. Crim. App. 2016). “The State of Alabama appeals the trial court’s granting, of David Todd Stephens’s *136 pretrial motion to dismiss, on double-jeopardy grounds, an indictment charging him with abuse of a corpse, a violation of § 13A-11-13, Ala.Code 1975. On January 4, 2009, Stephens killed his…”
Kenneth Alan Vandusen v. State of Alabama, 389 So. 3d 352 (Ala. Crim. App. 2023). “Kenneth Alan Vandusen appeals his convictions for abuse of a corpse, a violation of § 13A-11-13, Ala. Code 1975, and obstructing justice CR-2022-0571 by using a false identity, a violation of § 13A-8-194, Ala.”
Jeremy T. Williams v. State of Alabama, No. CR-2024-0290 (Ala. Crim. App. Mar. 27, 2026). “Code 1975; for abuse of a corpse, see § 13A-11-13, Ala. Code 1975; for first-degree human trafficking, see § 13A-6-152, Ala.”
Bell v. State, 31 So. 3d 159 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009). “1995) (Tn denying the petition, this Court does not address dicta in the Court of Criminal Appeals opinion suggesting that, under the circumstances of this case, it would be proper to instruct the jury regarding the offense of “abuse of corpse,” § 13A-11-13, Ala.Code 1975, as a…”
Ala. Code § 13A-11-13(a): 2 cases
Thompson v. Nagle, 118 F.3d 1442 (11th Cir. 1997). “” Ala.Code 13A-11-13(a) (1975). 3 . Even if the evidence were insufficient to support Thompson’s rape conviction, that would not affect the sentence of death in this case.”
Kenneth Alan Vandusen v. State of Alabama, 389 So. 3d 352 (Ala. Crim. App. 2023). “Kenneth Alan Vandusen appeals his convictions for abuse of a corpse, a violation of § 13A-11-13, Ala. Code 1975, and obstructing justice CR-2022-0571 by using a false identity, a violation of § 13A-8-194, Ala.”
Ala. Code § 13A-11-13(b): 1 case
Kenneth Alan Vandusen v. State of Alabama, 389 So. 3d 352 (Ala. Crim. App. 2023). “Kenneth Alan Vandusen appeals his convictions for abuse of a corpse, a violation of § 13A-11-13, Ala. Code 1975, and obstructing justice CR-2022-0571 by using a false identity, a violation of § 13A-8-194, Ala.”
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