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Necrophilia

Updated: Wikipedia source

Necrophilia

Necrophilia, also known as necrophilism, necrolagnia, necrocoitus, necrochlesis, and thanatophilia, is sexual attraction or acts involving corpses, including both direct intercourse with corpses and sexual excitement at the thought or presence of one. It is classified as a paraphilia by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic manual, as well as by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Reported motivations vary widely, ranging between sexual domination of a non-responsive partner, fetishization of death and corpses, and bereavement of a close sexual partner. Necrophilia can coincide with sexual roleplay of the subject instead pretending to be a corpse while their partner takes on the role of the necrophile. In contrast to human paraphilias, many cases of animal necrophilia (also known as Davian behavior) have been observed, primarily as a result of being unable to distinguish between a receptive mate and a recently deceased one. Some species of arthropods and frogs can instead fully copulate with a recently killed mate.

Tables

· Classification
Role players
Role players
Class
Class I
Name
Role players
Characteristics
People who get aroused when pretending their partner is dead during sexual activity.
Romantic necrophiliacs
Romantic necrophiliacs
Class
Class II
Name
Romantic necrophiliacs
Characteristics
Bereaved people who remain attached to their dead lover's body.
Necrophiliac fantasizers
Necrophiliac fantasizers
Class
Class III
Name
Necrophiliac fantasizers
Characteristics
People who fantasize about necrophilia, but do not physically interact with corpses.
Tactile necrophiliacs
Tactile necrophiliacs
Class
Class IV
Name
Tactile necrophiliacs
Characteristics
People who are aroused by touching or stroking a corpse, without engaging in intercourse.
Fetishistic necrophiliacs
Fetishistic necrophiliacs
Class
Class V
Name
Fetishistic necrophiliacs
Characteristics
People who remove objects or body parts from a corpse for sexual fetishes, without engaging in intercourse.
Necromutilomaniacs
Necromutilomaniacs
Class
Class VI
Name
Necromutilomaniacs
Characteristics
People who derive pleasure from mutilating a corpse while masturbating, without engaging in intercourse.
Opportunistic necrophiliacs
Opportunistic necrophiliacs
Class
Class VII
Name
Opportunistic necrophiliacs
Characteristics
People who normally have no interest in necrophilia, but take the opportunity when it arises.
Regular necrophiliacs
Regular necrophiliacs
Class
Class VIII
Name
Regular necrophiliacs
Characteristics
People who preferentially have intercourse with the dead.
Homicidal necrophiliacs
Homicidal necrophiliacs
Class
Class IX
Name
Homicidal necrophiliacs
Characteristics
Necrosadists, people who murder someone to have sex with the victim.
Exclusive necrophiliacs
Exclusive necrophiliacs
Class
Class X
Name
Exclusive necrophiliacs
Characteristics
People who have an exclusive interest in sex with the dead, and cannot perform at all for a living partner.
Class
Name
Characteristics
Class I
Role players
People who get aroused when pretending their partner is dead during sexual activity.
Class II
Romantic necrophiliacs
Bereaved people who remain attached to their dead lover's body.
Class III
Necrophiliac fantasizers
People who fantasize about necrophilia, but do not physically interact with corpses.
Class IV
Tactile necrophiliacs
People who are aroused by touching or stroking a corpse, without engaging in intercourse.
Class V
Fetishistic necrophiliacs
People who remove objects or body parts from a corpse for sexual fetishes, without engaging in intercourse.
Class VI
Necromutilomaniacs
People who derive pleasure from mutilating a corpse while masturbating, without engaging in intercourse.
Class VII
Opportunistic necrophiliacs
People who normally have no interest in necrophilia, but take the opportunity when it arises.
Class VIII
Regular necrophiliacs
People who preferentially have intercourse with the dead.
Class IX
Homicidal necrophiliacs
Necrosadists, people who murder someone to have sex with the victim.
Class X
Exclusive necrophiliacs
People who have an exclusive interest in sex with the dead, and cannot perform at all for a living partner.
· Legality › United States
Alabama
Alabama
State
Alabama
Severity
Felony (Class C)
Statute
§ 13A-11-13
Alaska
Alaska
State
Alaska
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class A)
Statute
§ 11-61-130
Arizona
Arizona
State
Arizona
Severity
Felony (Class 4)
Statute
§ 32-1364 Archived 10 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
Arkansas
Arkansas
State
Arkansas
Severity
Felony (Class C)
Statute
§ 5-60-101
California
California
State
California
Severity
Felony
Statute
Health and Safety Code § 7052
Colorado
Colorado
State
Colorado
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class 2)
Statute
§ 18-13-101
Connecticut
Connecticut
State
Connecticut
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class A) or Felony (Class D) if victim under 16
Statute
§ 53a-73a
Delaware
Delaware
State
Delaware
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class A)
Statute
§ 11-5-1332
Florida
Florida
State
Florida
Severity
Felony (second degree)
Statute
§ 872.06
Georgia
Georgia
State
Georgia
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 16-6-7
Hawaii
Hawaii
State
Hawaii
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 711–1108
Idaho
Idaho
State
Idaho
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 18-7027
Illinois
Illinois
State
Illinois
Severity
Felony (Class 2)
Statute
§ 720 ILCS 5/12-20.6
Indiana
Indiana
State
Indiana
Severity
Felony (Level 6)
Statute
§ 35-45-11-2
Iowa
Iowa
State
Iowa
Severity
Felony (Class D)
Statute
§ 709.18
Kansas
Kansas
State
Kansas
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 21-6205
Kentucky
Kentucky
State
Kentucky
Severity
Felony (Class D)
Statute
§ 525.120 Archived 23 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
Louisiana
Louisiana
State
Louisiana
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ LA Rev Stat 14:101
Maine
Maine
State
Maine
Severity
Felony (Class D)
Statute
§ 17.508
Maryland
Maryland
State
Maryland
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 10-401
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State
Massachusetts
Severity
N/A
Statute
N/A
Michigan
Michigan
State
Michigan
Severity
State jail felony (since 2024)
Statute
§ 750.160
Minnesota
Minnesota
State
Minnesota
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 609.294
Mississippi
Mississippi
State
Mississippi
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 97-29-25
Missouri
Missouri
State
Missouri
Severity
Felony (Class D)
Statute
§ 194.425
Montana
Montana
State
Montana
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 45-5-627 Archived 28 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine
Nebraska
Nebraska
State
Nebraska
Severity
Felony (Class 4)
Statute
§ 28-1301
Nevada
Nevada
State
Nevada
Severity
Felony (Class A)
Statute
NRS § 201.450
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
State
New Hampshire
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 644:7
New Jersey
New Jersey
State
New Jersey
Severity
Felony (Class 3)
Statute
§ 2C:22-1
New Mexico
New Mexico
State
New Mexico
Severity
N/A
Statute
N/A
New York
New York
State
New York
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class A)
Statute
§ 130.20
North Carolina
North Carolina
State
North Carolina
Severity
Felony (class I)
Statute
§ 14-401.22(c)
North Dakota
North Dakota
State
North Dakota
Severity
Misdemeanor (Class A)
Statute
§ 12.1-20-12 and § 12.1-20-02
Ohio
Ohio
State
Ohio
Severity
Felony (fifth degree)
Statute
§ 2927.01
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
State
Oklahoma
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 21-1161
Oregon
Oregon
State
Oregon
Severity
Felony
Statute
ORS § 166.085
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
State
Pennsylvania
Severity
Misdemeanor (second degree)
Statute
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5510
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
State
Rhode Island
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 11-20-1.2
South Carolina
South Carolina
State
South Carolina
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 16-17-600
South Dakota
South Dakota
State
South Dakota
Severity
N/A
Statute
N/A
Tennessee
Tennessee
State
Tennessee
Severity
Felony (Class E)
Statute
§ 39-17-312
Texas
Texas
State
Texas
Severity
State jail felony (since 2017)
Statute
§ 9.42.08
Utah
Utah
State
Utah
Severity
Felony (third degree)
Statute
§ 76-9-704
Vermont
Vermont
State
Vermont
Severity
State jail felony (since 2025)
Statute
13 V.S.A. § 3761a
Virginia
Virginia
State
Virginia
Severity
N/A
Statute
N/A
Washington
Washington
State
Washington
Severity
Felony (Class C)
Statute
RCW § 9A.44.105
West Virginia
West Virginia
State
West Virginia
Severity
Misdemeanor
Statute
§ 61-8-9[failed verification]
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
State
Wisconsin
Severity
Felony (Class G)
Statute
§ 940.225 (7)
Wyoming
Wyoming
State
Wyoming
Severity
Felony
Statute
§ 6-4-502
State
Severity
Statute
Alabama
Felony (Class C)
§ 13A-11-13
Alaska
Misdemeanor (Class A)
§ 11-61-130
Arizona
Felony (Class 4)
§ 32-1364 Archived 10 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
Arkansas
Felony (Class C)
§ 5-60-101
California
Felony
Health and Safety Code § 7052
Colorado
Misdemeanor (Class 2)
§ 18-13-101
Connecticut
Misdemeanor (Class A) or Felony (Class D) if victim under 16
§ 53a-73a
Delaware
Misdemeanor (Class A)
§ 11-5-1332
Florida
Felony (second degree)
§ 872.06
Georgia
Felony
§ 16-6-7
Hawaii
Misdemeanor
§ 711–1108
Idaho
Misdemeanor
§ 18-7027
Illinois
Felony (Class 2)
§ 720 ILCS 5/12-20.6
Indiana
Felony (Level 6)
§ 35-45-11-2
Iowa
Felony (Class D)
§ 709.18
Kansas
Misdemeanor
§ 21-6205
Kentucky
Felony (Class D)
Archived 23 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
Louisiana
Misdemeanor
§ LA Rev Stat 14:101
Maine
Felony (Class D)
§ 17.508
Maryland
Misdemeanor
§ 10-401
Massachusetts
N/A
N/A
Michigan
State jail felony (since 2024)
§ 750.160
Minnesota
Misdemeanor
§ 609.294
Mississippi
Felony
§ 97-29-25
Missouri
Felony (Class D)
§ 194.425
Montana
Felony
§ 45-5-627 Archived 28 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine
Nebraska
Felony (Class 4)
§ 28-1301
Nevada
Felony (Class A)
NRS § 201.450
New Hampshire
Misdemeanor
§ 644:7
New Jersey
Felony (Class 3)
§ 2C:22-1
New Mexico
N/A
N/A
New York
Misdemeanor (Class A)
§ 130.20
North Carolina
Felony (class I)
§ 14-401.22(c)
North Dakota
Misdemeanor (Class A)
and § 12.1-20-02
Ohio
Felony (fifth degree)
§ 2927.01
Oklahoma
Felony
§ 21-1161
Oregon
Felony
ORS § 166.085
Pennsylvania
Misdemeanor (second degree)
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5510
Rhode Island
Felony
§ 11-20-1.2
South Carolina
Felony
§ 16-17-600
South Dakota
N/A
N/A
Tennessee
Felony (Class E)
§ 39-17-312
Texas
State jail felony (since 2017)
§ 9.42.08
Utah
Felony (third degree)
§ 76-9-704
Vermont
State jail felony (since 2025)
13 V.S.A. § 3761a
Virginia
N/A
N/A
Washington
Felony (Class C)
RCW § 9A.44.105
West Virginia
Misdemeanor
§ 61-8-9[failed verification]
Wisconsin
Felony (Class G)
§ 940.225 (7)

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