| Carl Tanzler |
Article Index for Carl |
Website Links For Carl |
Information AboutCarl Tanzler |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CARL TANZLER | |
| 1877 births | |
| 1952 deaths | |
| german-americans | |
| necrophilia | |
| people from florida | |
| sexual fetishism | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
|
Carl Tanzler, aka '''Carl von Cosel''' ( February 8 , 1877 – July 23 , 1952 ) was a Radiologist in Key West , Florida who developed a morbid obsession for Elena Milagro Hoyos (1910–1931). She was one of his patients, and she died from Tuberculosis in 1931 at the hospital. With her parents' permission he had an above ground Mausoleum built for her, so she wouldn't decompose underground. He visited the tomb every night and by 1933 he had taken the body home with him and kept it in his bed. He restored her body as best he could and kept a full wardrobe to dress her. NAME Tanzler went by many names; he was listed as Georg Karl Tänzler on his German marriage certificate. He was listed as '''Carl Tanzler von Cosel''' on his US citizenship papers, and he was listed as '''Carl Tanzler''' on his Florida death certificate. Some of his hospital records were signed '''Count Carl Tanzler von Cosel'''. BIOGRAPHY He was born as Karl Tänzler or '''Georg Karl Tänzler''' on , 1998 . Tanzler emigrated to the United States in 1926, sailing from Rotterdam on February 6 , 1926 to Havana , Cuba . From Cuba he settled in Zephyrhills, Florida and was later joined by his wife and two daughters. Leaving his family behind in Zephyrhills in 1927, he took a job as a radiologist at Marine Hospital in Key West, Florida under the name Carl von Cosel. By 1930 Doris, living in Zephyrhills, could still not speak English and didn't hold a job. ELENA MILAGRO HOYOS At the hospital, Carl became obsessed with Elena Milagro Hoyos (1910–1931), aka Helen, a patient at the hospital suffering from terminal tuberculosis. Elena was the daughter of Frank Hoyos (1883–?) and Aurora Milagro (1881–?), and her siblings were Florinda Milagro Hoyos (1906–1944) aka Nana, who married Mario Medina (c.1905–1944) and also died of tuberculosis in 1944 or 1946; and Celia Milagro Hoyos (1913–?). On February 18, 1926, Elena married Luis Mesa (1908–?), the son of Caridad and Isaac Mesa. Luis eventually moved to Miami . Mario Medina, Nana's husband, was electrocuted trying to rescue a coworker who hit a powerline with his crane at a construction site. MORBID OBSESSION Elena died in October of 1931, and Carl carried his obsession with her beyond the grave. With the permission of her family he paid for the construction of an above ground Mausoleum in the Key West City Cemetery, and he visited her body every night. In April of 1933 he took the body from the mausoleum to his home. He attached her bones together with piano wire, and fitted her face with glass eyes. As her skin decomposed he replaced it with silk cloth soaked in hot wax. As her hair fell out of her decomposing scalp, he collected it and made a wig for her head. He filled her abdomen and chest cavity with rags to keep her original form. Carl dressed her in stockings and white gloves and kept the body in his bed. In 1940 Elena's sister, Florinda had heard rumors and confronted Carl in his home and discovered her sister's body. She notified the authorities and Carl was arrested, but could not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had run out for grave desecration. Elena's body was put on display at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, and then was returned to Key West City Cemetery. Her remains were buried in an unmarked grave to prevent further tampering. DEATH AND BURIAL In 1944 Tanzler moved to Pasco County, Florida close to Zephyrhills, Florida and he wrote an autobiography in 1947. He received United States citizenship in 1950 in Tampa and he died on July 3 , 1952 . His body was discovered on the floor of his home three weeks after his death. He died under the name "Carl Tanzler". APOCRYPHAL STORIES
REFERENCES
TIMELINE
|