Reps. Gayle Manning and Kellie Deeter Introduce Amanda Dean's Law to Strengthen Penalties for Abuse of a Corpse

COLUMBUS, OH — State Representatives Gayle Manning (R-Avon) and Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) today introduced Amanda Dean’s Law, legislation that would increase criminal penalties to ensure accountability, protect human dignity, and provide justice for victims’ families.  

Amanda Dean’s Law increases penalties for a person that treats a human body in a way that deeply violates family or community standards, and it imposes even stronger consequences when the abuse involves dismemberment, mutilation, intentional disfigurement, or attempts to hide a crime or interfere with justice.

The bill is named in honor of Amanda Dean, a 36-year-old mother of four, who was tragically murdered by her boyfriend in 2017. Investigators with BCI determined that Dean was killed inside a residence where the couple lived, and that the killer later cleaned the crime scene and disposed of evidence. Dean’s body has not been found.

“Abuse of a human corpse is a profound violation of dignity and deeply traumatizing for families,” said Rep. Manning. “Amanda Dean’s Law ensures that Ohio law treats these offenses with the seriousness they deserve and holds offenders fully accountable.”

“Families deserve respect, compassion, and justice,” said Rep. Deeter. “This legislation sends a clear message that Ohio will not tolerate acts that dishonor the deceased or compound the suffering of loved ones.”

Key provisions of Amanda Dean’s Law include:

Reclassifying abuse of a corpse that outrages reasonable family sensibilities as a felony of the fifth degree;
Increasing penalties for gross abuse of a corpse to a felony of the fourth degree;
Elevating the offense to a felony of the third degree when the conduct involves dismemberment, mutilation, or intentional disfigurement;
Establishing a felony of the second degree when such acts are committed to conceal a crime, obstruct justice, or impair a criminal investigation or prosecution.
 

The bill awaits a number and committee assignment.