Legislators Push For Melody’s Law To Criminalize Necrophilia In Michigan

We have a lot of laws that are designed to protect the living, but there is one specifically that is missing when it comes to protecting our loved ones who have passed away. And thanks to a distrubing case, we're reconsidering fixing that.

Right now, in Michigan, there's a bit of a gap in the law when it comes to a really disturbing topic—engaging in sexual activity with someone who has passed away. Yeah, you read that right. It's not technically illegal.

State Sen. Veronica Klinefelt from Eastpointe thinks it's high time to fix this glaring oversight. She's not mincing words about it. According to her, it's all about treating everyone with respect, no matter what phase of life they're in.

Read More: Are Michigan Retailers Required To Accept Your Bottles and Cans?

Sen. Klinefelt said that because of this, she's now pushing for new legislation to criminalize necrophilia called "Melody's Law."

Why is this new legislation called Melody's Law?

The law is named after Melody Rohrer, who was a 64-year-old woman who tragically lost her life in 2021. Her story is heartbreaking, she was out for a walk in Van Buren County when she was struck and killed by a man driving a car. Which is a terrible enough story This man then took her body to a wooded area in St. Joseph County, where he sexually assaulted her. Melody, a wife, grandmother, and retired nurse, deserved so much better.

Due to the way the current laws are written, Melody didn't recieve the justice she deserves, so now legislators in Lansing are fighting to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else in the future.

This legislation isn't just about closing a legal loophole. It's about justice for Melody and ensuring that nobody else suffers the same fate. It's about making sure that every individual is respected and protected, even after they're gone. And with "Melody's Law," Michigan is taking a big step in the right direction.