[1], The story of Tanzler and Elena would be reproduced in pulp magazines in the years following his death, with various parties adding new details to the case. Instead, Marias mummified remains were put on display at Dean-Lopez Funeral Home. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. There are no photographs or other sources to prove this. [11], It has been written (most notably by Swicegood) that Tanzler had the bodies switched (or that Elena's remains were secretly returned to him), and that he died with the real body of Elena. You cant turn the channel. Design a site like this with WordPress.com, The Strange Afterlife of Maria Elena Milagro deHoyos, Odd Oldies: A Vampire, A Romance & A Friendship from Hell Criminally Clueless Podcast. As they autopsy her body, for a second time, they discovered that she was removed from her tomb two years after her burial. Born on July 31, 1909, in Key West, Florida, Elena was a strikingly attractive girl with luxurious dark hair and an appealing shyness. When he was 12 years old, he dreamed of a woman who would leave an impression on his life forever. He was later joined by his wife and children. She was then buried in an unmarked grave by undertaker Benjamin Sawyer, cemetery sexton Otto Bethel and chief of police Bienvenido Perez, all of whom have taken this location to their own graves as a secret never to be revealed (Harrison 1996, Sloan 2012, Meek 2017). He lavished her with gifts, and professed his undying love, telling her he would love and care for her even if she died. A young black-haired Cuban woman and Tanzler met for the first time in 1930 in the Marine Hospital in Key West, Florida. I also want to give great credit to Ben Harrison as one of the most prominent writers and researchers on this story, he was one of the first to bring it to the modern age with his book Undying Love. This browser does not support getting your location. You accept the use of cookies or other identifiers by accepting, ignoring or dismissing this notice. And when he proposed marriage, she always told him You are too old. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Sorry! Her family agreed to let Tanzler attempt to treat her with various medicines, x-rays and other experimental cures. He also said he had nine university diplomas. When she passed away in 1931 from tuberculosis, Tanzler refused to leave her side. Many years ago, Carl von Cosel travelled from India to Australia with the intention of proceeding to the South Seas Islands. Helen had . Please try again later. Shes not dying fast enough. This engraving with Elenas name can now be found at the Fort Martello Museum in Key West. Dickinson, writing from Miami, asked, Didnt John Dorschner have anything better to do than write his story about Con Von Cosel? [12][13] An article written by Michelfelder in 1982 tells of how renovation workers found a note allegedly written by Tanzler, confessing to have killed Elena by poisoning her:[13]. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Sloan, D,L. It was estimated that she wouldnt have long to live, but Von Cosel disagreed. Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos married Luis Roberto "Louis" Mesa. Cosel fell in love with her despite the fact that she was legally married. However, no other evidence had ever come to the fore, apart from these threats, suggesting that Tanzler may have committed murder. It is through several key pieces of research he came across and our correspondence on these that inspired and made this article a possibility. He also made countless proposals of marriage towards Elena, starting the night her older sister Florinda Nana Medina (1906 1944) was wed. Elenas mother protested and kicked Tanzler out of the family home (Tanzler von Cosel 1947, Harrison 1996, Sloan 2012). 1910 - d. October 25, 1931; Key West, Florida, USA) Contents 1 Parents 2 Siblings 3 Marriage 4 Death Parents Francisco Hoyos (1883-1934), aka Pancho Hoyos Aurora Milagro (1881-1940) Siblings Elena was in unbearable pain, but her parents approved of Von Cosel's arrangement. The Countess had an interesting story herself; being the mistress of 18th century King Augustus II of Poland. After Hoyos sister showed up at Tanzlers home in 1940, the jig was up. [1][8], One evening in April 1933, Tanzler crept through the cemetery where Elena was buried and removed her body from the mausoleum, carting it through the cemetery after dark on a toy wagon, and transported it to his home. The Count [Tanzler] is in love, hes a much older man in love with a young girl who wants nothing to do with him. To some, it is the ultimate romance, and to others, it is a grotesque tale of violation. Because of his medical knowledge, Tanzler knew he could save Hoyos. Tanzler immediately recognized Hoyos as the woman from his dream. Unfortunately for them both, Tanzlers prognosis for young Hoyos was not great, having diagnosed her with tuberculosis, which was still considered to be a fatal disease in the early 1900s. She also received x-rays, which is when she met her radiologist, Carl Von Cosel. Check out Rachel's pod/comedy! He asked if he could have Elenas body returned to him. The following "Editorial Note" accompanying the autobiographical account "The Trial Bay Organ: A Product of Wit and Ingenuity" by "Carl von Cosel" in the Rosicrucian Digest[3] of March and April 1939, gives details about his stay in Australia before his internment during the Great War, as well as his subsequent return to Germany after the War:[4][5]. [6], Around 1920, following his return to Germany, Tanzler married Doris Schfer (18891977). On October 25, 1931, Elena died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-two. What followed was an on-and-off relationship where Tanzlers medical treatments were accepted but his proposals of marriage were sidestepped. He was no longer her technician; she was the love of his life. He had her torso stuffed with rags in an attempt to preserve its original form, and he covered her scalp with bits of real hair. Despite everything, the statute of limitations had expired for the crime he was accused of committing, leaving Tanzler free to go. Carl Von Cosel had preserved her corpse for seven years. She was only nice to him because my mother told her she should be kind to those who were kind to her. Her mother was worried about her declining health, but neither of them probably thought Tanzler would take an interest in her. He slept with the body in his bed, but he kept a curtain between them because he was an extreme gentleman. Search above to list available cemeteries. Learn about one of Key West's most haunted homes. She passed away on 25 October 1931 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida. He replaced her former beauty with ghoulish, frightening features. John Dillinger was a gangster during the Great Depression. 22nd April 1930 would turn out to be a very fateful day. Whether this is true or not, well never know the answer, but its not something we want to ponder too closely. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. for a minute Police Officer Bienvenido Perez Only Living Person Who Knows Where Elena Buried. He would buy her gifts and dote on her, and did everything in his power to heal her, but she succumbed to the illness. However, he never gave up on his one true love. based on information from your browser. Loathing: Lethal hate directed towards one person, group, culture or nation (Morrall 2006, p. 36). She was only 22. According to Michelfelder (1982), Tanzler signed the cause on Elenas death certificate as [expiration] from a series of violent seizures clinically associated with dormant epilepsy (p.9). So much so that Elena was said to have died hating Tanzler. Carl had basically abandoned his wife and children, and was more content living with a dead body than a live woman. Interestingly, Morrall (2006) uses the word mercy in love as a motivator for murder, as does Tanzler in the confession note I gave this to her mercifully (Michelfelder 1982, p.8). It is hoped that the findings presented here will contribute towards the continuation of this cultural shift, and bring more empathy and understanding towards Elena rather than the man who pursued, poisoned and exploited her in life and death. In 1931, Dr. Carl Tanzler fell in love with a patient he was treating for tuberculosis. Carl Von Cosel had preserved her corpse for seven years. Death . He carried on his love affair with her corpse. 3 Feb. 2021, https://redcircle.com/shows/nightmerica. cemeteries found in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Whether this is true or not, well never know the answer. [1][8], Despite Tanzler's best efforts, Elena died of tuberculosis at her parents' home in Key West on October 25, 1931. Maria Elena Milagro De Hoyos Birth 31 Jul 1909. Mara Elena "Helen" Hoyos A principios del siglo XX nace una hija de inmigrantes cubanos llamada Mara Elena Milagro-Hoyos. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. People would spot him dancing with a woman behind closed curtains inside his laboratory. She came here 71 years ago from her native Dresden, Germany. Fantastic Adventures, Sep. 1947, pp.10 69. These cookies do not store any personal information. She looked upon von Cosel as a grandfather. Maria Elena Milagro Hoyos (1909 - 1931), more commonly referred to as Elena, was the middle born Cuban-American child of Francisco Hoyos (1883 - 1934) and Aurora Milagro (1881 - 1940) in Key West, Florida. Phantom Press. Life is dormant, inactive, sleeping, in a person who has died. Elena was once again reduced to an object of spectacle, only this time she was a tourist attraction. In their case report of an aconite overdose, Wood et al. Hey Spooksters! She was still so young. He kept a wingless airplane on the hospital grounds that he called Countess Elena and claimed they would someday fly away together (he also claimed the plane would be amphibious and that it would sail on water as well as fly). She was a waitress and homemaker. Considered one of the most toxic herbs, it has been used as a deadly poison throughout history (Wood, Coulson, Thompson and Bonner 2020). There is a problem with your email/password. A Fresh Look at the Impacts and Relevance of Colonialism in Southeast Asia, Purposeless Polls: How Soviet Citizens RebelledAgainst a Regime that Rejected Open Communication. He dedicated all his time to curing her, or at least attempting to do so. Tanzler visited Hoyos grave every night for nearly two years, a habit that stopped abruptly after he lost his job for reasons unknown. Morrall, Dr. P. Murder and Society: why commit Murder? Criminal Justice Matters, 66:1, 2006, pp. They were unaware that the doctor had found sperm inside Elenas corpse, clear evidence of necrophilia. German-born American radiology technologist and erotomaniac. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Von Cosel robbed her body from the grave. She came into the hospital he worked at due to contracting tuberculosis. She was said to be extremely beautiful, shy and an accomplished singer, to the point where tourists would ask for pictures with her in the street. TSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. What is is known for is for having a love affair that lasted 7 years after her death. Her body was finally laid to rest once and for all in an unmarked grave in Key West Cemetery. At this point, Carl had lost his job at the hospital and was living in a remote shack which also housed his laboratory. He reportedly said he felt her spirit come to him when he sat by her tomb and serenaded her with her favorite Spanish song. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 17 Feb. 2017, https://www.thisamericanlife.org/610/grand-gesture, Michelfelder, W. Floridas Dr. Frankenstein and His Love Laboratory. I own that tomb and everything that is inside, not you! (p.70). This American Life. To his absolute horror, Elenas putrefied body had begun to deteriorate. While there is not much written in the way of Tanzler feeling anything described as loathing towards Elena directly, (extreme disgust as per the Merriam-Webster dictionary), his relationship with her family was often very adversarial. Not until recently. Ginsburg, Arthur, director. Carl was doing more than playing dress up with Elena. A cousin revealed to The Tennessean Sun in 1940: [Elenas] two rescues from death [via electric shock by Tanzler / von Cosel] had been so painful that Elena finally died hating her rescuer and [begged] to be allowed to stay dead. Tanzler also used perfume, disinfectants, and preserving agents to mask the odor of Hoyos decomposition. Ten years before Elenas birth, Von Cosels ancestor had appeared to him as an apparition. Authorities took Elena from him. Thats a pretty harsh breakup, isnt it? Instead of a cure, she found a radiologist named Karl Tanzler who instantly became obsessed with her. Immortal Kisses Were His Goal. In 1947, Tanzler published his memoir The Secret of Elenas Tomb in the pulp magazine Fantastic Adventures which was then used as the basis for the books Undying Love by Ben Harrison (1996), The Lost Diary of Count von Cosel by David Sloan (2012) and Von Cosel by Tom Swicegood (2003), all of which represent the majority of established literature on this subject. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Finding her safe, he remained with her for three years, witnessing the chaos that followed in the wake of the war. Tanzler was subsequently arrested on the charge of wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorisation so a hearing was held. He once shouted at her parents, Will you take the responsibility to let your daughter die through your stupidity? (p. 32) and on finding their new residence recalled, if anyone had tried to stop me [from entering], I think, I would have used violence (p.28). Undying Love: The True Story of a Passion That Defied Death. Tanzler (1947), in his memoirs, recalled being furious at not being informed sooner: In my desperation, I called out [to Elenas brother-in-law]: If only you had come to me half an hour earlier, perhaps it wouldnt have been too late. After reading about the perverse love of Carl Tanzler, brush up on macabre marriages with the Chinese ritual of ghost brides. Shortly after Elenas death, Tanzler talked the family into giving him residence in her room, paying them a fee of $20 a month (about $345 in todays money). It was palatable and my loved one departed this miserable world on October 25, 1931. He would briskly stroll around town with a cane and show off wristwatches claiming to be commissioned to him by the Czar of Russia. Resend Activation Email. He then placed Elena Hoyos on his canopied bed, serenading her with a small, church organ. 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