68.50.140 - Unlawful disturbance, removal, or sale of human remains -- Penalty.

Unlawful disturbance, removal, or sale of human remains — Penalty.

(1) Every person who shall remove human remains, or any part thereof, from a grave, vault, or other place where the same has been buried or deposited awaiting burial or cremation, without authority of law, with intent to sell the same, or for the purpose of securing a reward for its return, or for dissection, or from malice or wantonness, is guilty of a class C felony.

     (2) Every person who shall purchase or receive, except for burial or cremation, human remains or any part thereof, knowing that the same has been removed contrary to the foregoing provisions, is guilty of a class C felony.

     (3) Every person who shall open a grave or other place of interment, temporary or otherwise, or a building where human remains are placed, with intent to sell or remove the casket, urn, or of any part thereof, or anything attached thereto, or any vestment, or other article interred, or intended to be interred with the human remains, is guilty of a class C felony.

     (4) Every person who removes, disinters, or mutilates human remains from a place of interment, without authority of law, is guilty of a class C felony.

[2005 c 365 § 140; 2003 c 53 § 308; 1992 c 7 § 44; 1909 c 249 § 239; RRS § 2491. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1943 c 247 § 25 now codified as RCW 68.50.145. Formerly RCW 68.08.140.]

Notes: Intent -- Effective date -- 2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.