To amend section 2927.01 of the Revised Code to enact Amanda Dean's Law to increase the penalties for abuse of a corpse.
Summary
HB654 would amend Ohio’s abuse-of-a-corpse statute, R.C. 2927.01, and rename the measure “Amanda Dean’s Law.” The bill increases criminal penalties for conduct involving a human corpse that would outrage reasonable family or community sensibilities. Under the proposal, abuse of a corpse under division (A) would be elevated from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a felony of the fifth degree, and gross abuse of a corpse under division (B) would generally be increased from a felony of the fifth degree to a felony of the fourth degree.
The bill also creates enhanced penalties for especially egregious conduct. If the offender dismembers, mutilates, or intentionally disfigures a corpse, the offense would be a felony of the third degree. If that conduct is done to conceal a crime, obstruct justice, or impair a criminal investigation or prosecution, the offense would be a felony of the second degree. The bill repeals the existing version of section 2927.01 and replaces it with the revised penalty structure.
Impact
HB654 would directly amend Ohio criminal law governing treatment of human remains by increasing the severity of penalties and adding tiered felony enhancements for dismemberment, mutilation, intentional disfigurement, and related efforts to conceal or obstruct crimes. The change would affect prosecutors, defense counsel, courts, and defendants charged under the abuse-of-a-corpse statute, and would likely increase potential prison exposure and collateral consequences for convictions. It would also formally rename the statute as Amanda Dean’s Law.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available record suggests a straightforward punitive policy proposal with no documented opposition or support in the materials provided. The bill’s title and penalty increases indicate a strong public-safety and victim-respect framing, and the measure appears to have been introduced in the House Public Safety Committee without recorded debate in the supplied context. Overall sentiment in the available record is neutral-to-supportive, with the proposal presented as a response to particularly disturbing conduct.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the degree of penalty enhancement: the bill substantially increases punishment for conduct already criminalized, and the largest increases apply when the corpse is dismembered, mutilated, or intentionally disfigured, especially if tied to concealment or obstruction of justice. Critics could view the bill as overly punitive or duplicative of existing criminal statutes, while supporters would likely argue that the heightened penalties are warranted to reflect the seriousness of the conduct and its impact on families, communities, and criminal investigations. No specific objections or amendments are reflected in the provided committee or vote history.
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