Carl Tanzler von Cosel (1877-1952) of Florida
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Carl Tanzler von Cosel (1877-1952) of Florida
| Richard Arthur Norton (View posts) | Posted: 23 Dec 2005 6:16PM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Surnames: Tänzler, Tanzler
Carl Tanzler von Cosel (1877-1952) was a necrophile in Key West, Florida.
Name:
He went by many names. He was listed as Georg Karl Tänzler on his German marriage certificate. He was listed as Carl Tanzler von Cosel on his US citizenship papers, and he was listed as Carl Tanzler on his Florida death certificate. Some of his hospital records were signed Count Carl Tanzler von Cosel.
Birth and Marriage:
He was born as Karl Tänzler or Georg Karl Tänzler on February 8, 1877 in Dresden, Germany. Around 1920 he married Doris A. (1889-1977) and he was listed as "Georg Karl Tänzler" on the marriage certificate. Together they had the following children: Ayesha Tanzler (1922-1998) aka Ann Tanzler, who married a Bucey; and Crystal Tanzler (1924-1934) aka Crysta Tanzler, who died of diphtheria; Ayesha was born on May 01, 1922 and she died on December 27, 1998 under the name "Ann Bucey".
Emigration:
He emigrated to the United States in 1926, sailing from Rotterdam on February 6, 1926 to Havanna, Cuba. From Cuba he settled in Zephyrhills, Florida and was later joined by his wife and two daughters.
Key West:
Leaving his family behind in Zephyrhills in 1927, he took a job as a radiologist at Marine Hospital in Key West, Florida under the name Carl von Cosel. By 1930 Doris, living in Zephyrhills, could still not speak English and didn't hold a job.
Elena Milagro Hoyos:
At the hospital, Carl became obsessed with Elena Milagro Hoyos (1910-1931) aka Helen Hoyos. She was a patient of the hospital and had terminal tuberculosis. Elena was the daughter of Frank Hoyos (1883-?) and Aurora Milagro (1881-?), and her siblings were: Florinda Milagro Hoyos (1906-1944) aka Nana, who married Mario Medina (c1905-1944) and she also died of tuberculosis in 1944 or 1946; and Celia Milagro Hoyos (1913-?). Elena married Luis Mesa (1908-?) aka Louis Mesa, on February 18, 1926. Luis was the son of Caridad and Isaac Mesa and Luis eventually moved to Miami. Mario Medina, the husband of her sister, was electrocuted trying to rescue a coworker, who hit a powerline with his crane at a construction site.
Morbid obsession:
Elena died in October of 1931, and Carl carried his obsession with her beyond the grave. With the permission of her family he paid for the construction of an above ground mausoleum in the Key West City Cemetery, and he visited her body every night. In April of 1933 he took the body from the mausoleum to his home. He attached her bones together with piano wire, and fitted her face with glass eyes. As her skin decomposed he replaced it with silk cloth soaked in hot wax. As her hair fell out of her decomposing scalp, he collected it and made a wig for her head. He filled her abdomen and chest cavity with rags to keep her original form. Carl dressed her in stockings and white gloves and kept the body in his bed. In 1940 Elena's sister, Florinda had heard rumors and confronted Carl in his home and discovered her sister's body. She notified the authorities and Carl was arrested, but could not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had run out for grave desecration. Elena's body was put on display at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, and then was returned to Key West City Cemetery. Her remains were buried in a unmarked grave to prevent further tampering.
Death and Burial:
In 1944 Carl moved to Pasco County, Florida close to Zephyrhills, Florida and he wrote an autobiography in 1947. He received United States citizenship in 1950 in Tampa and he died on July 3, 1952. His body was discovered on the floor of his home three weeks after his death. He died under the name "Carl Tanzler", and was buried in Oakside Cemetery in Zephyrhills, Florida with: his wife, Doris Tanzler (1889-1977) who was born on September 7, 1889 and died May 10, 1977; and his daughter, Crystal Tanzler (1920-1934) who died on June 09, 1934.
Name:
He went by many names. He was listed as Georg Karl Tänzler on his German marriage certificate. He was listed as Carl Tanzler von Cosel on his US citizenship papers, and he was listed as Carl Tanzler on his Florida death certificate. Some of his hospital records were signed Count Carl Tanzler von Cosel.
Birth and Marriage:
He was born as Karl Tänzler or Georg Karl Tänzler on February 8, 1877 in Dresden, Germany. Around 1920 he married Doris A. (1889-1977) and he was listed as "Georg Karl Tänzler" on the marriage certificate. Together they had the following children: Ayesha Tanzler (1922-1998) aka Ann Tanzler, who married a Bucey; and Crystal Tanzler (1924-1934) aka Crysta Tanzler, who died of diphtheria; Ayesha was born on May 01, 1922 and she died on December 27, 1998 under the name "Ann Bucey".
Emigration:
He emigrated to the United States in 1926, sailing from Rotterdam on February 6, 1926 to Havanna, Cuba. From Cuba he settled in Zephyrhills, Florida and was later joined by his wife and two daughters.
Key West:
Leaving his family behind in Zephyrhills in 1927, he took a job as a radiologist at Marine Hospital in Key West, Florida under the name Carl von Cosel. By 1930 Doris, living in Zephyrhills, could still not speak English and didn't hold a job.
Elena Milagro Hoyos:
At the hospital, Carl became obsessed with Elena Milagro Hoyos (1910-1931) aka Helen Hoyos. She was a patient of the hospital and had terminal tuberculosis. Elena was the daughter of Frank Hoyos (1883-?) and Aurora Milagro (1881-?), and her siblings were: Florinda Milagro Hoyos (1906-1944) aka Nana, who married Mario Medina (c1905-1944) and she also died of tuberculosis in 1944 or 1946; and Celia Milagro Hoyos (1913-?). Elena married Luis Mesa (1908-?) aka Louis Mesa, on February 18, 1926. Luis was the son of Caridad and Isaac Mesa and Luis eventually moved to Miami. Mario Medina, the husband of her sister, was electrocuted trying to rescue a coworker, who hit a powerline with his crane at a construction site.
Morbid obsession:
Elena died in October of 1931, and Carl carried his obsession with her beyond the grave. With the permission of her family he paid for the construction of an above ground mausoleum in the Key West City Cemetery, and he visited her body every night. In April of 1933 he took the body from the mausoleum to his home. He attached her bones together with piano wire, and fitted her face with glass eyes. As her skin decomposed he replaced it with silk cloth soaked in hot wax. As her hair fell out of her decomposing scalp, he collected it and made a wig for her head. He filled her abdomen and chest cavity with rags to keep her original form. Carl dressed her in stockings and white gloves and kept the body in his bed. In 1940 Elena's sister, Florinda had heard rumors and confronted Carl in his home and discovered her sister's body. She notified the authorities and Carl was arrested, but could not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had run out for grave desecration. Elena's body was put on display at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, and then was returned to Key West City Cemetery. Her remains were buried in a unmarked grave to prevent further tampering.
Death and Burial:
In 1944 Carl moved to Pasco County, Florida close to Zephyrhills, Florida and he wrote an autobiography in 1947. He received United States citizenship in 1950 in Tampa and he died on July 3, 1952. His body was discovered on the floor of his home three weeks after his death. He died under the name "Carl Tanzler", and was buried in Oakside Cemetery in Zephyrhills, Florida with: his wife, Doris Tanzler (1889-1977) who was born on September 7, 1889 and died May 10, 1977; and his daughter, Crystal Tanzler (1920-1934) who died on June 09, 1934.
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