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Carl Tanzler

Carl Tanzler, also known as Count Carl von Cosel, was a German-born radiology technologist in the United States who became notorious for grave robbing and corpse preservation in Key West, Florida.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Carl Tanzler, also known as Count Carl von Cosel, was a German-born radiology technologist in the United States who became notorious for grave robbing and corpse preservation in Key West, Florida. He is best known for removing the body of Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos from her grave and keeping her remains in his home for years before the case was discovered.

Early life and identity

Carl Tanzler was born in Dresden, Germany, in 1877 and later lived in the United States. He used several names, including Carl von Cosel.

Relationship with Maria Elena de Hoyos

While working in Key West, Tanzler met Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, a young woman with tuberculosis. Sources describe him as developing an intense fixation on her before and after her death.

Grave robbing case

After de Hoyos was buried, Tanzler removed her body from the grave and kept it in his home for years, reportedly using preservation methods to maintain its appearance.

Tanzler was examined and found competent to stand trial, but the charge was not pursued to conviction and the case was dropped. The incident attracted public attention and became a notorious true-crime story.

Key facts

  • Tanzler worked in Key West, Florida, as a radiology technologist in the early 1930s.
  • He became obsessed with his patient Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, who died of tuberculosis.
  • In 1933, he removed her body from its burial place and kept the remains in his home.
  • Authorities later found him mentally competent to stand trial, but the case was eventually dropped.
  • The case became widely known in American true crime history and is often described as one of its most unusual examples.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Carl Tanzler?
He was a German-born radiology technologist in Florida who became infamous for removing and preserving the body of Maria Elena de Hoyos.
Why is Carl Tanzler famous?
He is known for one of the most unusual grave-robbing cases in American true-crime history, involving the remains of a woman he had obsessed over.
What happened to him legally?
He was found mentally competent to stand trial, but the case was eventually dropped.
Who was Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos?
She was a young Cuban-American woman in Key West who died of tuberculosis and became the focus of Tanzler’s fixation.
Did Carl Tanzler go by another name?
Yes. He was also known as Count Carl von Cosel.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Tanzler
    Supports: Birth details, occupation, legal charge, competency finding, and dropped case.
  2. Ripley's Believe It or Not! — https://www.ripleys.com/stories/carl-tanzler
    Supports: Overview of Tanzler's life in Key West, relationship with de Hoyos, grave robbing, and public aftermath.
  3. American Hauntings Ink — https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/voncosel
    Supports: Birth name, alias, and narrative of the case in Key West.