Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2927
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2927.01 (2026)

Abuse of a corpse

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Effective:
July 1, 1996
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly
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(A) No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that the person knows would outrage reasonable family sensibilities.

(B) No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of gross abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 123 cases (51 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: State v. Condon, 789 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003).
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State v. Condon, 789 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003). · cites it 29× “This case is about the manner in which Condon took the photographs, and his treatment of the corpses in doing so; it is no way a prosecution based upon the message he sought to express.”
State v. Hopfer, 679 N.E.2d 321 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 1996). · cites it 8× “” Hopfer contends that R.C. 2927.01, abuse of a corpse, is unconstitutionally vague and that the trial court should have dismissed that charge against her.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508. · cites it 2× “25(A); gross abuse of her corpse, R.C. 2927.01(B); aggravated robbery and aggravated arson, R.”
State v. Gardner, 582 N.E.2d 1014 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1989). · cites it 21× “The trial court erred in denying the appellant’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that O.R.C. § 2927.01 is unconstitutionally vague.”
State v. Glover, 479 N.E.2d 901 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 1984). · cites it 8× “The state appeals from the trial court’s pretrial dismissal of the indictment against defendant for gross abuse of a corpse (R.C. 2927.01[B]). The state claims that the trial court erred by finding the applicable statute unconstitutionally vague.”
State v. Whitaker, 2022-Ohio-2840, 207 N.E.3d 677. · cites it 2× “{¶ 79} Gross abuse of a corpse is defined in R.C. 2927.01(B): “No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.”
State v. Knuff, 2024-Ohio-902, 239 N.E.3d 259. · cites it 2× “01(B) Count 12 Gross abuse of a corpse (Mann), in violation of R.C. 2927.01(B) Count 13 Breaking and entering (of Classic Hair Studio), in violation of R.”
State v. Sapp, 2004-Ohio-7008, 822 N.E.2d 1239. · cites it 2× “12(A)(1), and three counts of abusing a corpse pursuant to R.C. 2927.01(B). Two arson counts were severed before trial.”
State v. Jones, 2019-Ohio-2134. · cites it 2× “12, and one count of gross abuse of a corpse in violation of R.C. 2927.01. The aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, aggravated murder and murder counts contained firearm specifications in violation of R.”
State v. Myers (Slip Opinion), 2018-Ohio-1903, 114 N.E.3d 1138. “31(A)) Count 9 abuse of a corpse (R.C. 2927.01(B)) with a firearm specification *1157 {¶ 37} The jury found Myers guilty on all counts and specifications.”
State v. Warfel, 2017-Ohio-5766. · cites it 12× “{¶4} On August 4, 2015, the Medina County Grand Jury indicted Warfel on one count of gross abuse of a corpse in violation of R.C. 2927.01(B), a fifth-degree felony, and one count of tampering with evidence in violation of R.”
State v. Hardin, 2024-Ohio-2943. · cites it 12× “11, felonies of the fifth degree, nine counts of abuse of a corpse, in violation of R.C. 2927.01, felonies of the fifth degree, nine counts of representation as a funeral director while unlicensed, in violation of R.”
Show all 123 citing cases →
Ohio Rev. Code § 2927.01(A): 8 cases
State v. Acosta, 2022-Ohio-3327.
State v. Fletcher, 2024-Ohio-5117, 255 N.E.3d 870.
State v. Duncan, 2014-Ohio-2720.
Condon v. Wolfe, 310 F. App'x 807 (6th Cir. 2009).
State v. Gardner, 582 N.E.2d 1014 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1989). “The trial court erred in denying the appellant’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that O.R.C. § 2927.01 is unconstitutionally vague.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2927.01(B): 105 cases
State v. Condon, 789 N.E.2d 696 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2003). “This case is about the manner in which Condon took the photographs, and his treatment of the corpses in doing so; it is no way a prosecution based upon the message he sought to express.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508. “25(A); gross abuse of her corpse, R.C. 2927.01(B); aggravated robbery and aggravated arson, R.”
State v. Whitaker, 2022-Ohio-2840, 207 N.E.3d 677. “{¶ 79} Gross abuse of a corpse is defined in R.C. 2927.01(B): “No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.”
State v. Knuff, 2024-Ohio-902, 239 N.E.3d 259. “01(B) Count 12 Gross abuse of a corpse (Mann), in violation of R.C. 2927.01(B) Count 13 Breaking and entering (of Classic Hair Studio), in violation of R.”
State v. Sapp, 2004-Ohio-7008, 822 N.E.2d 1239. “12(A)(1), and three counts of abusing a corpse pursuant to R.C. 2927.01(B). Two arson counts were severed before trial.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2927.01(B)(C): 1 case
State v. Hudson, 2011-Ohio-1343.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2927.01(C): 3 cases
State v. Fletcher, 2024-Ohio-5117, 255 N.E.3d 870.
State v. Collins, 585 N.E.2d 532 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1990).
State v. Kern, 2024-Ohio-5976.
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