Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-312: Abuse of corpse

(a) A person commits an offense who, without legal privilege, knowingly: (1) Physically mistreats a corpse in a manner offensive to the sensibilities of an ordinary person; (2) Disinters a corpse that has been buried or otherwise interred; (3) Disposes of a corpse in a manner known to be in violation of law; or (4) Engages in sexual contact, as defined in § 39-13-501 , with a corpse. (b) A person commits an offense who, without legal authority or privilege, knowingly offers to sell, sells, offers to purchase or purchases previously buried human skeletal remains. Any remains seized in violation of this subsection (b) shall be confiscated and subject to disposition as provided for in §§ 11-6-104 and 11-6-119 . (c) A violation of this section is a Class E felony. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 402, s 2, eff. 7/1/2021. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 2006, ch. 896, § 1.

(a) A person commits an offense who, without legal privilege, knowingly: (1) Physically mistreats a corpse in a manner offensive to the sensibilities of an ordinary person; (2) Disinters a corpse that has been buried or otherwise interred; (3) Disposes of a corpse in a manner known to be in violation of law; or (4) Engages in sexual contact, as defined in § 39-13-501 , with a corpse.

(1) Physically mistreats a corpse in a manner offensive to the sensibilities of an ordinary person;

(2) Disinters a corpse that has been buried or otherwise interred;

(3) Disposes of a corpse in a manner known to be in violation of law; or

(4) Engages in sexual contact, as defined in § 39-13-501 , with a corpse.

(b) A person commits an offense who, without legal authority or privilege, knowingly offers to sell, sells, offers to purchase or purchases previously buried human skeletal remains. Any remains seized in violation of this subsection (b) shall be confiscated and subject to disposition as provided for in §§ 11-6-104 and 11-6-119 .

(c) A violation of this section is a Class E felony.