Carl Tanzler: A Grave Robbing, Hopeless Romantic
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Carl Tanzler’s twisted mentality and his inability to let go place him amongst history’s weirdest people.
Tanzler was an Austrian-born physician who lived a relatively normal life until 1931 when he fell head-over-heels in love with a young tuberculosis patient named Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos.
Hoyos was a 22-year-old Cuban-American woman who was brought into the Key West, Florida Hospital where Tanzler worked. As soon as he first laid eyes on her, Tanzler was transfixed.
Tanzler had visions as a child of a stunning, dark-haired woman who was destined to be his true love and he was convinced that Hoyos must literally be the woman of his dreams.
At the time tuberculosis was still a deadly disease so Tanzler committed himself to caring for Hoyos and made every attempt to save her life while also showering her with gifts and professions of love.
Donald Allen Kirch/YouTube
Unfortunately, Hoyos died a few months later, sending Tanzler into deep heartbreak. With her parents’ blessing, Tanzler purchased an expensive mausoleum for Hoyos to be buried in. However, once her body was locked inside, Tanzler was the only one with the key and soon after, his macabre journey began.
Tanzler visited Hoyos’ body every night for two years until he evidently decided that he wanted her closer. In April 1933, he stole the decaying body from its tomb and kept it in his home with him.
Because Hoyos had been dead for two years, Tanzler had to provide extensive upkeep on the body. He used plaster of Paris and glass eyes to maintain the integrity of her face and stabilized her skeletal frame by using coat hangers and wires.
Donald Allen Kirch/YouTube
Once her hair began to fall out from her decomposing scalp, he replaced it with pieces of her real hair. He stuffed her torso full of rags to help it retain its normal shape and cloaked her in copious amounts of perfume to keep the stench at bay. He also added wax to her face to help it remain intact as well.
Tanzler lived with Hoyos’ dead body for seven years before her family became suspicious. Hoyos’ sister eventually confronted Tanzler at his home and made the grisly discovery in 1940.
Tanzler was arrested for grave robbing but because the statute of limitations on his crime had expired, he avoided any jail time.
After his arrest, some people pitied Tanzler and thought of him as hopeless – and extremely weird – romantic.
