34-27-18. Opening grave or breaking building with intent to remove body or coffin as misdemeanor.

Every person who opens any grave or any place of burial, temporary or otherwise, or who breaks open any building wherein any dead body of a human being is deposited while awaiting burial, with intent either:

(1)    To remove any dead body of a human being for the purpose of selling the same or for the purpose of dissection; or

(2)    To steal the coffin, or any part thereof, or anything attached thereto or connected therewith, or the vestments or other articles buried with the same;

is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Source: PenC 1877, § 360; CL 1887, § 6561; RPenC 1903, § 365; RC 1919, § 3879; SDC 1939, § 13.1422; SL 1977, ch 190, § 73.