At home with her corpse, Carl set to work repairing the damage done by decomposition. Join Ghost City Tours on one of our Ghost Tours and see what the excitment is all about! The strange death mask was put on public display as the story became legend. His subsequent actions would be the ones that brought this story to public infamy. Arriving authorities quickly determined that this doll was, in fact, Hoyos herself, and they arrested Tanzler for grave robbing. The findings of which were most prominently reproduced in an episode of HBOs Autopsy series: I found a tube [in Elenas vagina] wide enough to permit sexual intercourse. Hed left them to search for his soulmate, which he found in Elena Hoyos. Even though people agreed Tanzler committed a crime, many members of the public felt sympathetic towards him. Please reset your password. Whether this is true or not, well never know the answer, but its not something we want to ponder too closely. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Now the big necrophilia question arises: did he or didnt he? [1][8], Shortly after the corpse's discovery by authorities, Elena's body was examined by physicians and pathologists, and put on public display at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, where it was viewed by as many as 6,800 people. Even his penetrating stare and vandyke beard cant distract you from his obsession with the hospitalized woman in his care. He was devastated. Her full name was Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, a heaven-sent love of his life for Carl, and the moment he first saw her, the beginning of a long-lasting "loving" relationship with literally the woman of his dreams-of which she would know nothing about . Just 21 years old, and 32 years younger than Tanzler, Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos was brought to the hospital for an examination. Tuberculosis was after all, considered an incurable disease in 1931 and it was the number one cause of death in Key West at the time (Harrison 1996). I foremost would like to acknowledge writer and historian David L. Sloan. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Was this act of murder justified by Tanzler as a mercy killing?. It is hoped that the findings presented here will contribute towards the continuation of this cultural shift, and bring more empathy and understanding towards Elena rather than the man who pursued, poisoned and exploited her in life and death. He had just begun to build a trans-ocean flyer when the war broke out and the British military authorities placed him in a concentration camp for 'safe-keeping' along with many officers India and China who were prisoners of war. Tanzler was psychiatrically examined and found mentally competent to stand trial on the charge of "wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorization. Now that she was dead, she could not protest. Years later he was found living in a house near the sea and through an investigation by Elena's sister, it was found that he had been living with her corpse, preserving it with oiled silk and wax to slow the decomposition. In 1940, Floridas infamous necrophile went on trial for desecrating the body of Elena Hoyos. . Mason Holdings Radio Hour. As of that day, he was fifty-three years old and Elena was close to twenty-one. In April of 1930, the beautiful but doomed Elena Hoyos arrived at the Marine Hospital for blood tests. [The magazine] has a story called Floridas Dr. Frankenstein and his Laboratory of Love. Carl von Cosel was acquitted. American Hauntings writes that it's unlikely she ever requited his affections. However, a year later, he left his family behind to work as a radiology technician at the U.S. Marine Hospital in Key West, Florida. It was there in 1930 that Tanzler met the woman he believed was the love of his life; Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. She came into the hospital he worked at due to contracting tuberculosis. In the early 1900s, approximately 110,000 Americans would die each year from tuberculosis. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. There, he looked to a number of DIY tricks to keep the young womans decaying body intact, including plaster of Paris and glass eyes to maintain the integrity of her face, as well as coat hangers and other wires to stabilize her skeletal frame. Maria Elena Milagro De Hoyos, The Unwilling Corpse Bride With Special Guest Rachel O'Brien. Hes got this plan to be with her after shes dead. He showered her with jewelry and clothing, and he frequently professed his love to her. Maria Elena Milagro Hoyos (1909 1931), more commonly referred to as Elena, was the middle born Cuban-American child of Francisco Hoyos (1883 1934) and Aurora Milagro (1881 1940) in Key West, Florida. Carl Von Cosel had preserved her corpse for seven years. (LogOut/ Eventually, the corpse was reburried to an unmarked grave in Key West Cemetery, and Maria de Hoyos was finally able to rest in peace. Von Cosel was arrested for body snatching but was not indicted because the statute of limitations had passed. Wild ass Carl, Elena before her passing, Elena's body w/ death mask, Carl replaces Elenas eyes, Elena's body 2. There continued to be much conflict between him and Elenas family. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Key West put her corpse on display. I mixed the root of wolfsbane (monkshood) with aconite diluted. I have roamed the earth searching for Elena! It is also worth noting that Elenas body was not autopsied (Michelfelder 1982) and Tanzler (1947) specifically recounts [after Elenas funeral was over], some Cuban who I had never seen before, indulged in a piece of fiery oratory wherein he demanded punishment for the person responsible for her early death. Carl Tanzler Fell In Love With His Patient, Then Lived With Her Corpse. Photo Credit: DeWolfe and Wood Collection in the Otto Hirzel Scrapbook CC BY 2.0 . Phantom Press. He had her torso stuffed with rags in an attempt to preserve its original form, and he covered her scalp with bits of real hair. Today, it seems even the dead body is no longer respected. Fans of Tanzler travelled to give him treats, public sympathy portrayed him as an eccentric romantic, an attorney offered to represent him pro bono and Elenas body was put on public display to be viewed by over 6,850 people at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home (Tanzler von Cosel 1947, Michelfelder 1982, Harrison 1996, Sloan 2012, Meek 2017). Tanzler was subsequently arrested on the charge of wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorisation so a hearing was held. For some reason, Marias mother possessed a wig made out of her daughters hair, and she gifted this to Carl. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. In 1947, Tanzler published his memoir The Secret of Elenas Tomb in the pulp magazine Fantastic Adventures which was then used as the basis for the books Undying Love by Ben Harrison (1996), The Lost Diary of Count von Cosel by David Sloan (2012) and Von Cosel by Tom Swicegood (2003), all of which represent the majority of established literature on this subject. All of the sources that make claims about this are modern. Carl Tanzler was a German immigrant working at a Key West, Florida, hospital in the early 1930s. While there is not much written in the way of Tanzler feeling anything described as loathing towards Elena directly, (extreme disgust as per the Merriam-Webster dictionary), his relationship with her family was often very adversarial. So what does he do? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23114033/elena-hoyos. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. [12][13] An article written by Michelfelder in 1982 tells of how renovation workers found a note allegedly written by Tanzler, confessing to have killed Elena by poisoning her:[13]. I mixed the root of wolfsbane (monkshood) with aconite diluted. They called him an eccentric romantic and felt sorry for his psychological disorder. Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher, 2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer, Earwolf & Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. Finding her safe, he remained with her for three years, witnessing the chaos that followed in the wake of the war. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Carl Von Cosel was nevertheless unsatisfied with the outcome of his trial. Over time, his patient learned to trust him, but Tanzler had other motives that a medical professional shouldnt have with their patient. Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Elena Hoyos (23114033)? On February 18, 1926, she married Luis Mesa, but he left her shortly after she suffered a miscarriage of the couples first child. [10] His body was discovered on the floor of his home three weeks after his death. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. HBO, 1999. He even bought her a mahogany bed, which would become her deathbed. One night in 1933, he snuck her body out from the mausoleum in a toy wheelbarrow, and took her home with him. Carl Von Cosel had preserved her corpse for seven years. I have sent you to the angels with my golden elixir Perez also claimed Tanzler had once told him that he 'would kill Elena if necessary to fulfil [his] destiny'[12] The poison confession letter article was also cited by historian David L. Sloan on episode 44 of the NightMerica podcast.[14]. He thought of everything to make sure he could continue living with her corpsefor seven years! We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He hoped she would return the same feelings. [10], In October 1940, Elena's sister Florinda heard rumors of Tanzler sleeping with the disinterred body of her sister and confronted Tanzler at his home, where Elena's body was eventually discovered (he was also caught dancing with her corpse in front of an open window). Many years ago, Carl von Cosel travelled from India to Australia with the intention of proceeding to the South Seas Islands. Historically, the Cosel family seemed to be haunted by bad luck. He lavished her with gifts, and professed his undying love, telling her he would love and care for her even if she died. The County Jail charged him of malicious and wanton disfigurement of a burial vault, yet the jurors found no law that he had broken. [1][8] Tanzler showered Elena with gifts of jewelry and clothing, and allegedly professed his love to her, but no evidence has surfaced to show that any of his affection was reciprocated by Elena. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Tanzler was evidently consumed by obsessive lust for Elena. Hoyos body was placed on display at a local funeral home, where nearly 7,000 people came to see the corrupted corpse for themselves. Episode: Maria Elena Milagro De Hoyos, the Unwilling Corpse Bride w/ special guest @rachaelnobrien 1. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Journalists reported that the judge denied Von Cosels request, screaming at Von Cosel with disgust. Happy for him, she decided to visit him and congratulate him on his relationship. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Marias sister heard weird rumours about Carl. Despite her illness, she was still an attractive young woman, and her beauty didnt go unnoticed by Tanzler. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos was a 21-year-old Cuban American beauty. Elenas doctors decided to not disclose possibly the most disturbing discovery they had made until after Carls death. At least she got to keep her hair. Elena was once again reduced to an object of spectacle, only this time she was a tourist attraction. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Tanzler (1947) tells of many arguments he had with Elenas parents about her condition, the Cuban culture of smoking cigars, having numerous visitors at the house and taking Elena for car rides. [1], Tanzler attached the corpse's bones together with piano wire and fitted the face with glass eyes. Marias family soon became puzzled when Carl stopped visiting her grave, but they just assumed that he had finally moved on. 2, 2020, pp. Fantastic Adventures, Sep. 1947, pp.10 69. Tanzler emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1926, sailing from Rotterdam on February 6, 1926 to Havana, Cuba. This all seems like silly speculation, to get people to read an old story. Tanzler immediately recognized Hoyos as the woman from his dream. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Those sensitive to spiritual energies claim that Elena Hoyos poltergeist haunts the funeral home of Bahama Lane. A local Cuban- American woman by the name of Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos was brought into the hospital by her mother for an examination. She was diagnosed with fast-acting tuberculosis. Tanzler insisted on purchasing a pricey stone mausoleum in Key West Cemetery for her remains to lay, and with her parents permission, hired a mortician to prepare her body before locking her inside. A psychiatric evaluation of Tanzler stated that he was in a borderline state but otherwise sane and mentally competent (Meek 2017). You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. In 1930, Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the Marine Hospital in Key West. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She was his soulmate, so he created a life-size doll from a death mask that closely resembled his favorite woman. (p. 54). When a Cuban-American woman named Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos walked into the hospital, the doctor saw before him an actual dream come true. Elena died on 25th October 1931 at the age of twenty-two. Her name was Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos. Normally you dont get any new information [about the story]. Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 . Carl died alone in 1952, at the age of 75. Fifty years ago she appeared to me in a vision, and she promised then to be my bride. She revealed her face to him in his dream, and Tanzler knew at that moment that this was the woman he was meant to marry. It seemed to be someone admitting to killing someone. A defeated Carl shuffled off to Pasco County, Florida to patch together some semblance of a life. Hoyos body was finally buried in a new cemetery at Key West Cemetery. St. Martins True Crime Classics. The former corpse bride is now at rest. He replaced her former beauty with ghoulish, frightening features. Surprisingly, there are no contemporary sources that mention anything about necrophilia. He carried on his love affair with her corpse. He kept her body in his bed, where he slept beside her every night. Maria Elena Milagro Hoyos (1909 - 1931), more commonly referred to as Elena, was the middle born Cuban-American child of Francisco Hoyos (1883 - 1934) and Aurora Milagro (1881 - 1940) in Key West, Florida. Carl simply did not care, and continued indulging himself in unrequited love. Lust: a lover kills a rival for his/her object of desire; the thrill-killer who murders people because he gains a sexual payoff. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Human jealousy has robbed me of the body of my Elena, yet divine happiness is flowing through me, for she has survived death. An autopsy of the body revealed the intricacies of Tanzlers work, which included a paper tube inserted between her legs, forming a makeshift vagina, although Tanzler never admitted to committing any necrophiliac acts. Before she died, Carl wrote in his journal how he had hopes that, despite the extensive damage, the lesions would heal again. Separated from his dead love, Tanzler used a death mask to create a life-sized effigy of Maria de Hoyos and lived with it until his death. However, no other evidence had ever come to the fore, apart from these threats, suggesting that Tanzler may have committed murder. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Learn about the chilling embalmed corpse of the blushing bride La Pascualita. This [incident] makes so much sense. He believed he had finally found her in Elena. Immortal Kisses Were His Goal. Bizzarrepedia Although he was already married with 2 daughters, Carl was immediately struck by Marias appearance. Mesa left for Miami, leaving Elena alone as her illness worsened (Harrison 1996). Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos married Luis Roberto "Louis" Mesa. To his absolute horror, Elenas putrefied body had begun to deteriorate. The family, considering Elena was fatally ill at this point, conceded. These cookies do not store any personal information. Sorry! Which theory do you think best explains the Iraq War? 22nd April 1930 would turn out to be a very fateful day. Instead, he found plenty of things to do, including fashioning a wig for her once her hair fell out of her decomposing scalp. Elena Hoyos. [1] Tanzler paid for her funeral, and with the permission of her family, he then commissioned the construction of an above ground mausoleum in the Key West Cemetery, which he visited almost every night. If youre craving for a new Lifetime movie to watch, look no further. Why, you are old enough to be my grandfather. In Carls autobiography, he does confess to kissing and cuddling Marias cadaver. April October 2019. https://masonholdings.org/radio-hour/Wood, C. Coulson J. Thompson S. + Bonner, S. An Intentional Aconite Overdose: A Case Study. In Episode 44 of the NightMerica podcast, released 3rd February 2021, David L. Sloan gave an interview to Aaron Sagers about the story, and discusses an article he found in the Detective Cases magazine, published in 1982. Tuesday, October 6, 2009 Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos Most people have never heard of her. 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