Melody’s Law: Michigan Closes Legal Loophole on Necrophilia

Necrophilia is now explicitly illegal in Michigan, thanks to a trio of bills signed last week by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. These new laws make it a two-year misdemeanor to intentionally sexually touch a dead human body and a 15-year felony to engage in sexual acts with a corpse. Convicts will also be required to register as sex offenders.

Melody’s Law: Michigan Closes Legal Loophole on Necrophilia

The legislation, known as “Melody’s Law,” honors Melody Rohrer, who was tragically murdered and sexually assaulted in September 2021. Melody's killer, Colby Martin, was never charged with a crime related to the alleged sexual assault but is currently serving a life sentence for her murder.

Before this legislation, Michigan state law only prohibited the unlawful mutilation, defacing, or moving of a body, leaving a glaring loophole that Melody’s family and supporters were determined to close.

“These bills correct this lapse, providing penalties and creating sentencing guidelines for individuals convicted of sexual conduct with or involving a corpse,” said Governor Whitmer. “By ensuring criminals are held accountable for sexual assault of any kind, Michigan’s communities, and its residents, will be safer and stronger.”

Melody’s family, especially her husband Rick and their daughters, played a pivotal role in pushing for this change. State Senator Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, who sponsored the bills, praised their efforts: “I’m so glad to see Melody’s Law signed into law after a unanimous vote in both chambers. This legislation was the product of hard work done by Melody’s husband, Rick, and their daughters.”

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Defining The New Law

The new law defines sexual contact as intentional sexual touching between a person and a dead body done either for sexual purposes or in a sexual manner for revenge, to inflict humiliation, or out of anger. Sexual contact with a dead body is now a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and a $500 fine. Sexual penetration with a dead body is a felony carrying up to 15 years in prison.

What Was Melody's Story?

Melody Rohrer, a 64-year-old resident of southwest Michigan, was out for a jog when she was struck by Martin, who then allegedly moved her body to a wooded area miles away and engaged in sexual acts. Martin was convicted of first-degree murder, concealing the death of an individual, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident but faced no charges related to the alleged sexual assault.

“In Melody’s case, the individual was not charged with that aspect of his crime and the family was outraged,” Klinefelt previously stated. “We worked closely with the family as well as Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office to craft a bill that would make it clear for prosecutors and judges that this heinous act is a crime in Michigan.”

According to her obituary, Melody was a 1975 Three Rivers High School graduate who worked as a nurse for Bronson Methodist Hospital, caring for patients in the antepartum and postpartum unit until her retirement in 2017.