Three men accused of trying to dig up a young woman's body to have sex with it had charges of attempted sexual assault dismissed Friday by a judge who noted Wisconsin has no law against necrophilia.
Grant County Circuit Judge George Curry dismissed those charges against twins Nicholas and Alexander Grunke, 20, of Ridgeway, and Dustin Radke, 20, of Mineral Point, but they still face lesser charges.
They were arrested after an attempt to dig up Laura Tennessen, 20, of Cassville, who was killed Aug. 27 in a motorcycle crash and buried at the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Cassville.
Someone called authorities to report suspicious activity in the cemetery Sept. 2, and deputies found someone had dug down to her vault.
Grant County Sheriff Keith Govier said the three were not acquainted with Tennessen but had seen an obituary with her photo.
Authorities said Radke told investigators Nicholas Grunke asked him to help dig up the body to have sex.
Curry said there was no Wisconsin law that addressed necrophilia, but there was enough evidence to continue the case because of criminal damage to property and attempting to break into a burial vault, whose contents belongs to the Tennessen family.
The judge scheduled arraignment for the three Oct. 9.
The Rev. John Norder, pastor of St. Charles Catholic Church and a friend of the Tennessen family, called the "whole thing a weird situation" and said the defendants should seek counseling.
"The main thing is they get help," he said. "Normal people don't go around practicing necrophilia. These people need help."
After news of the arrests, state Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said he had been contacted by the sheriff and planned to propose a law against necrophilia.
