Legal penalties for moving a dead body in Arizona

The following is the result of an AI search and should NOT be considered current, official, accurate or used for any legitimate legal purposes.

In Arizona, the legal penalties for moving a dead body depend on the specific circumstances, intent, context (e.g., whether the body is buried, at a death scene, or awaiting disposition), and whether the movement is authorized by law. Arizona law generally allows authorized transportation (e.g., by family/next of kin, funeral directors, or under specific health/vital records rules like ARS § 36-326 for disposition-transit permits or certain hospice/home deaths without permits), but unauthorized or improper movement can lead to criminal charges.

Here are the key relevant statutes and penalties:

• Abandonment or concealment of a dead body (ARS § 13-2926):

  
  

  It is unlawful to knowingly move a dead human body (or parts) with the intent to abandon or conceal it. This does not apply to authorized transportation/disposition under funeral industry laws (Title 32, Chapter 12), certain funeral-related articles, or public health chapters (Title 36, Chapters 3 and 7).

  
  

  Violation is a Class 5 felony.

  
  

  In Arizona, Class 5 felonies typically carry penalties of up to 2.5 years in prison (presumptive sentencing around 1.5 years for first-time offenders), fines up to $150,000 (though often lower), probation possible, and other consequences depending on circumstances and criminal history.

• Crimes against the dead / desecration (ARS § 32-1364):

  
  

  This covers broader offenses against human remains, including:  

  
  

  • Mutilating a dead body without authority or outside funeral industry standards.  

  
  

  • Disinterring or removing a body (or parts) from a grave, sepulcher, or place awaiting disposition without authority of law, especially if done with malice, wantonness, or intent to sell/dissect.

    
    

    Moving a body in ways that fall under these prohibited acts (e.g., unauthorized removal from a burial site or awaiting-disposition location) can qualify.

    
    

    Violation is a Class 4 felony.

    
    

    Class 4 felonies in Arizona generally carry 2 to 4.5 years in prison (presumptive around 3 years), fines, and possible probation.

• Other related offenses:  

  
  

  • Disturbing human remains or funerary objects (ARS § 41-865, often for archaeological/historical sites): Intentional disturbance without permission can be a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail, fines up to $2,500) or Class 5 felony if involving possession/sale/transfer.  

  
  

  • In cases involving suspicious/unnatural deaths, removing a body from the death scene without consent (e.g., county medical examiner approval) is prohibited (ARS § 11-596), which could tie into reporting or tampering charges.  

  
  

  • Simple unauthorized transport without intent to conceal/abandon (e.g., family moving remains improperly but without criminal intent) may not always trigger felony charges but could violate permitting rules under Title 36 (vital records/death registration) and lead to civil issues or lesser penalties.

Penalties can vary based on factors like prior record, aggravating/mitigating circumstances, and prosecutorial discretion. There may also be civil liability (e.g., emotional distress claims by family/next of kin) in addition to criminal penalties.

This is based on Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) as of recent records. Laws can change, and specific cases depend on facts. For accurate advice on a situation, consult an Arizona attorney or check the official Arizona Legislature website (azleg .gov) for the most current statutes. 17GEN4.com