Karen Greenlee

Karen Greenlee

Drawing by Karen Greenlee

Drawing by Karen Greenlee representing her necrophilia
Born 1956 (age 59–60)
Occupation Former apprentice embalmer
Criminal charge Theft of a hearse and interfering with a funeral
Criminal penalty $255 fine and 11 days in jail
Motive Necrophilia

Karen Greenlee (born 1956) is a criminal who was convicted of stealing a hearse and having sex with the corpse it contained. Her case was the subject of much research due to her gender (nine out of ten necrophiles are men)[1] and because of the highly detailed interview she gave about her extensive practice of necrophilia in the anthology book Apocalypse Culture.

1979 arrest

Greenlee worked as an apprentice embalmer at the Memorial Lawn Mortuary in Sacramento, California. On December 17, 1979, she stole the hearse she was driving to a funeral along with the body of a 33-year-old man (who had died a week before) it was carrying. She was found days later near Alleghany in Sierra County, where she tried to commit suicide by overdosing on Tylenol and codeine but survived. She was found with a written confession where she admitted having had sex with 20 to 40 other bodies of young men, calling it "an addiction".[2]

Because necrophilia was not illegal in California at the time, Greenlee was only accused of stealing the hearse and interfering with a funeral, for which she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $255 fine and spend 11 days in jail.[3] After her release, her probation included mandatory therapy, which she says helped her make peace with herself.[4]

Greenlee and Memorial Lawn Mortuary were sued for $1 million dollars by Marian Gonzales, mother of victim John L. Mercure, for "severe emotional distress".[3] At the Superior Court hearing, the defense psychiatrist, Dr. Captane Thomson, said he did not think the event had "much of a lasting impact" on the victim's mother, who he says had a history of alcoholism and depression. Richard A. Kapuschinsky, a fellow embalmer and former colleague of Greenlee, testified to the jury that "there was no reason to suspect" Greenlee would commit such a crime, describing her as quiet and competent.[5] The lawsuit was eventually settled for $117,000 in general and punitive damages.[6]

Interview

A few years later in 1987, Greenlee gave a detailed and very frank interview about her necrophiliac interests to Jim Morton for his book Apocalypse Culture, published by Feral House. She described her preference for younger men, what sexual acts she would perform with their bodies, as well as her attraction for the smells of blood and death.[4]

She later regretted the interview, changed her identity, and moved to another city.[2]

Cultural impact

Greenlee's story inspired Barbara Gowdy's 1992 short story We So Seldom Look On Love, which in turn inspired the 1996 Canadian independent film Kissed, directed by Lynne Stopkewich. Like Greenlee, the movie's main character was a young woman working as an embalmer fascinated with dead bodies and who engages in necrophilia.[7] Molly Parker's portrayal of the controversial role earned her an award for "Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" at the 18th Genie Awards[8] Greenlee's story was also the inspiration for a "raucous rock musical" entitled The Unrepentant Necrophile presented at the fourth edition of the Twin Cities Horror Festival.[9]

Greenlee contributed a chapter to The Gospel of Filth, a book detailing the history and occult influences of extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.

Additional reading

References

  1. ↑ Quigley, Christine (2005). The Corpse: A History. McFarland & Company. p. 300. ISBN 978-0786424498.
  2. 1 2 Faraci, Devin (October 31, 2013). "Ghoul Of Your Dreams: Proud Necrophiliac Karen Greenlee". Birth.Movies.Death. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Diaz, Jaime. "She admits Sex with dead". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Morton, Jim (1990). Parfrey, Adam, ed. Apocalypse Culture (2nd revised ed.). Feral House. pp. 28–35. ISBN 978-0922915057.
  5. ↑ Otten, Michael. "Body's theft called lightning rod for anger". The Sacramento Union. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Man tries to resurrect dead father through power of prayer". Catholic.org. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2016. The mother of the dead man sued, asking for $1 million, but settled for $117, 000 in general and punitive damages.
  7. ↑ Wånggren, Lena (May 10, 2013). "Gothic sexualities: female necrophilia". University of Stirling. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Ebert, Roger (April 25, 1997). "Kissed". Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ Huyck, Ed (29 October 2015). "Twin Cities Horror Festival rolls on in fourth year". City Pages. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
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