(a) Any person who, by any means, knowingly and willfully conceals, attempts to conceal or who otherwise aids and abets any person to conceal a deceased human body where death occurred as a result of criminal activity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in a correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than five years and fined not less than $1,000, nor more than $5,000.
(b) It shall be a complete defense in a prosecution pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that the defendant affirmatively brought to the attention of law enforcement within forty-eight hours of concealing the body and prior to being contacted regarding the death by law enforcement the existence and location of the concealed deceased human body.
(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not apply to practitioners regulated by the provisions of article six, chapter thirty of this code or their agents while acting in their lawful professional capacities.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 61. Crimes and Their Punishment
Article 2. Crimes Against the Person
§61-2-1. First and Second Degree Murder Defined; Allegations in Indictment for Homicide
§61-2-2. Penalty for Murder of First Degree
§61-2-3. Penalty for Murder of Second Degree
§61-2-4. Voluntary Manslaughter; Penalty
§61-2-5. Involuntary Manslaughter; Penalty
§61-2-5a. Concealment of Deceased Human Body; Penalty
§61-2-6. Homicide Punishable Within State if Injury Occurs Within and Death Without, or Vice Versa
§61-2-7. Attempt to Kill or Injure by Poison; Penalty
§61-2-9. Malicious or Unlawful Assault; Assault; Battery; Penalties
§61-2-9a. Harassment; Penalties; Definitions
§61-2-9b. Penalties for Malicious or Unlawful Assault or Assault of a Child Near a School
§61-2-9c. Wanton Endangerment Involving the Use of Fire; Penalty
§61-2-9d. Strangulation; Suffocation and Asphyxiation; Definitions; Penalties
§61-2-10. Assault During Commission of or Attempt to Commit a Felony; Penalty
§61-2-10a. Violent Crimes Against the Elderly; Sentence Not Subject to Suspension or Probation
§61-2-11. Unlawful Shooting at Another in Street, Alley or Public Resort; Penalty
§61-2-12. Robbery or Attempted Robbery; Penalties
§61-2-13. Extortion or Attempted Extortion by Threats; Penalties
§61-2-14. Abduction of Person; Kidnapping or Concealing Child; Penalties
§61-2-14a. Kidnapping; Penalty
§61-2-14b. Venue of Offenses Under §§61-2-14 and 61-2-14a
§61-2-14c. Penalty for Threats to Kidnap or Demand Ransom
§61-2-14f. Penalties for Abduction of a Child Near a School
§61-2-14g. Unlawful Restraint; Penalties
§61-2-14h. Prohibition of Purchase or Sale of Child; Penalty; Definitions; Exceptions
§61-2-15. Assault, Battery on School Employees; Penalties
§61-2-15a. Assault, Battery on Athletic Officials; Penalties
§61-2-16. Injury to Passenger by Person in Charge of Public Conveyance or Boat; Penalty
§61-2-26. Doors to Be Removed From Abandoned Refrigerators, Freezers and Other Appliances; Penalties
§61-2-27. Required Reporting of Gunshot and Other Wounds
§61-2-27a. Required Reporting of Burns
§61-2-28. Domestic Violence — Criminal Acts
§61-2-29. Abuse or Neglect of Incapacitated Adult; Definitions; Penalties