Oklahoma § 21-1161.1 - Desecration of a human corpse - Penalty - Prosecution

§ 21-1161.1. Desecration of a human corpse - Penalty - Prosecution

with other offenses - Definition.

A. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and willfully

desecrate a human corpse for any purpose of:

1. Tampering with the evidence of a crime;

2. Camouflaging the death of human being;

3. Disposing of a dead body;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 21. Crimes and Punishments

4. Impeding or prohibiting the detection, investigation or

prosecution of a crime;

5. Altering, inhibiting or concealing the identification of a

dead body, a crime victim, or a criminal offender; or

6. Disrupting, prohibiting or interfering with any law

enforcement agency or the Office of the State Medical Examiner in

detecting, investigating, examining, determining, identifying or

processing a dead body, cause of death, the scene where a dead body

is found, or any forensic examination or investigation relating to a

dead body or a crime.

B. Upon conviction, the violator of any provision of this

section shall be guilty of a Class B4 felony offense punishable by

imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a

term not more than seven (7) years, by a fine not exceeding Eight

Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

C. This offense may be prosecuted in addition to any

prosecution pursuant to Section 1161 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma

Statutes for removal of a dead body or any other criminal offense.

D. For purposes of this section, “desecration of a human

corpse” means any act committed after the death of a human being

including, but not limited to, dismemberment, disfigurement,

mutilation, burning, or any act committed to cause the dead body to

be devoured, scattered or dissipated; except, those procedures

performed by a state agency or licensed authority in due course of

its duties and responsibilities for forensic examination, gathering

or removing crime scene evidence, presentation or preservation of

evidence, dead body identification, cause of death, autopsy,

cremation or burial, organ donation, use of a cadaver for medical

educational purposes, or other necessary procedures to identify,

remove or dispose of a dead body by the proper authority.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 438, § 6, eff. July 1, 2008. Amended by Laws

2025, c. 486, § 117, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.