RCW 68.50.050
Removal or concealment of body—Penalty.
(1) Any person, not authorized or directed by the coroner or medical examiner or their deputies, who removes the body of a deceased person not claimed by a relative or friend, or moves, disturbs, molests, or interferes with the human remains coming within the jurisdiction of the coroner or medical examiner as set forth in RCW 68.50.010, to any undertaking rooms or elsewhere, or any person who knowingly directs, aids, or abets such unauthorized moving, disturbing, molesting, or taking, and any person who knowingly conceals the human remains, shall in each of said cases be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) In evaluating whether it is necessary to retain jurisdiction and custody of human remains under RCW 68.50.010, 68.50.645, and 27.44.055, the coroner or medical examiner shall consider the deceased's religious beliefs, if known, including the tenets, customs, or rites related to death and burial.
(3) For purposes of this section and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "human remains" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 68.04.020. Human remains also includes, but is not limited to, skeletal remains.
[ 2016 c 221 § 1; 2011 c 96 § 48; 1917 c 90 § 7; RRS § 6046. Formerly RCW 68.08.050.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2011 c 96: See note following RCW 9A.20.021.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 68 - Cemeteries, Morgues, and Human Remains
Chapter 68.50 - Human Remains.
68.50.010 - Coroner's jurisdiction over remains.
68.50.015 - Immunity for determining cause and manner of death—Judicial review of determination.
68.50.020 - Notice to coroner or medical examiner—Penalty.
68.50.032 - Transportation of remains directed by coroner or medical examiner—Costs.
68.50.035 - Unlawful to refuse burial to non-Caucasian.
68.50.040 - Deceased's effects to be listed.
68.50.050 - Removal or concealment of body—Penalty.
68.50.060 - Bodies for instruction purposes.
68.50.070 - Human remains—Disposition.
68.50.080 - Certificate and bond before receiving bodies.
68.50.100 - Dissection, when permitted—Autopsy of person under the age of three years.
68.50.101 - Autopsy, postmortem—Who may authorize.
68.50.102 - Court petition for autopsy—Cost.
68.50.103 - Autopsies in industrial deaths.
68.50.105 - Autopsies, postmortems—Reports and records confidential—Exceptions.
68.50.106 - Autopsies, postmortems—Analyses—Opinions—Evidence—Costs.
68.50.107 - State toxicological laboratory established—State toxicologist.
68.50.110 - Burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.
68.50.115 - Coroner and medical examiner liability—Release of information.
68.50.120 - Holding body for debt—Penalty.
68.50.130 - Unlawful disposal of remains.
68.50.140 - Unlawful disturbance, removal, or sale of human remains—Penalty.
68.50.170 - Effect of authorization.
68.50.185 - Individual final disposition—Exception—Penalty.
68.50.200 - Permission to remove human remains.
68.50.210 - Notice for order to remove remains.
68.50.230 - Human remains that have not been disposed—Rules.
68.50.232 - Remains—Entrusting to funeral homes or mortuaries.
68.50.240 - Record of human remains to be kept.
68.50.270 - Possession of human remains.
68.50.290 - Corneal tissue for transplantation—Presumption of good faith.
68.50.300 - Release of information concerning a death.
68.50.310 - Dental identification system established—Powers and duties.
68.50.320 - Procedures for investigating missing persons—Availability of files.
68.50.325 - Indigenous persons—Identification of remains—Spiritual practices.
68.50.900 - Effective date—1987 c 331.
68.50.901 - Application—1993 c 228.
68.50.902 - Application—Construction—1993 c 228.