Von Cosel asked the family if he could keep Elena's body in a casket filled with formaldehyde to preserve her. The strange death mask was put on public display as the story became legend. He dedicated all his time to curing her, or at least attempting to do so. (2012). He stuffed her body with rags, waxed the skin with plaster of Paris, and even fitted the face with glass eyes. The young woman's mother brought her in to see a doctor: at 21, she was dying of tuberculosis. In April of 1933, Carl Tanzler removed Hoyos body from the mausoleum, no longer requiring him to make his nightly visits to the graveyard as she would now be housed in his own home. It has been recounted that Tanzler was found in the arms of Elena's effigy upon discovery of his corpse, but his obituary reported that he died on the floor behind one of his organs. Marias life was not going well. Additionally, Hoyos was known as the beauty of Key West. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He paused in Australia to collect equipment and suitable boats, and to become acquainted with prevailing weather and sea conditions. Tanzler would quickly take advantage of this privilege, which would result in one of the most macabre tales of all time. Later he was removed to Trial Bay to a castle-like prison on the cliffs, and there the work in this narrative was accomplished. Not surprisingly, he was still obsessed. In April 1933, he removed her body from the mausoleum and transported it to his makeshift laboratory that also served as his home. Please try again later. Tanzler (1947) tells of many arguments he had with Elenas parents about her condition, the Cuban culture of smoking cigars, having numerous visitors at the house and taking Elena for car rides. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The truth, however, will forever remain lost to time. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. From 1930 to 1952, he had endlessly obsessed over this woman. Tanzler moved from Key West to Zephyrhills near where his wife and sister lived, but not before according to Perez (1952, n.d.), using a time-bomb to blow up the tomb the night he left. Failed to report flower. Although reporters wrote that Carl Von Cosel died alone in 1952, this is somewhat untrue. Detective Cases, Jun. Bienvenido Perez, in a later interview for Men True Adventure magazine (n.d.), would reveal much darker intentions on Tanzlers part. Enter Carl Tanzler von Cosel, a German-born radiology technician who worked at the hospital. Hes got this plan to be with her after shes dead. She passed away on 25 October 1931 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida. He was later joined by his wife and children. Elenas prognosis was grim. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Shes not dying fast enough. His subsequent actions would be the ones that brought this story to public infamy. Creepy, crawly Count Carl Von Cosel wasnt a count at all. It is perfectly wonderful that you had such a strong love for the girl in this case. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos [ edit] On April 22, 1930, while working at the Marine Hospital in Key West, Tanzler met Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos (1909-1931), a local Cuban-American woman who had been brought to the hospital by her mother for an examination. She was not someone important, and she never did anything of note other than die young of tuberculosis. In 1972, two doctors who were present at Marias 1940 autopsy recalled how Carl had inserted a paper tube into the corpses vaginal canal to facilitate intercourse. Over seven thousand visitors arrived, each desperate to peek at this well-preserved woman. The name aconite itself is derived from the Ancient Greek word akontion, meaning dart, as arrows were often mixed with aconite to create a poisonous weapon. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram Elena died on 25th October 1931 at the age of twenty-two. A defeated Carl shuffled off to Pasco County, Florida to patch together some semblance of a life. He died in 1934, but his nephew is finally requesting for his body to be exhumed. The jig was up, and authorities confiscated the corpse. cemeteries found in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 1982, pp. By all appearances, she was an attractive dark haired beauty queen who often wore red roses in her hair, drawing the attention of strangers who desired to photograph and court her. Sorry! She was a devout Catholic who enjoyed Rudolph Valentino movies, cooking for family and friends, dancing at the social club La Brisa and looking forward to the technological developments of the 1930s (Weller 2019). Love: the mercy killing of a baby with a major deformity or partner with incurable cancer. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Its two associated names, monkshood and wolfsbane, come from its appearance and its use by shepherds to kill wolves respectively. Authorities took Elena from him. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Carl Von Cosel had consummated their marriage. He died in the arms of Hoyos real body. Despite the lack of qualifications needed to treat a tuberculosis patient, Tanzler was determined to save Hoyos and used a variety of specially-made tonics, elixirs, and medicines in an effort to do so. Some of his hospital records were signed Count Carl Tanzler von Cosel. Family members linked to this person will appear here. While no existing contemporary photographs of the autopsy or photographs taken at the public display show a tube, the necrophilia claim was repeated by the HBO Autopsy program in 1999.[10]. He decided to open her casket. Tanzler made nightly visits to Hoyos mausoleum. While there, he met a beautiful young woman 32 years his junior named Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, better known as Helen (top, in a photo courtesy of the Florida Keys Public Library). But death was creeping up close and fast. Her mother was worried about her declining health, but neither of them probably thought Tanzler would take an interest in her. The former three, as he describes them, are quite applicable to Tanzler. Before she died, Carl wrote in his journal how he had hopes that, despite the extensive damage, the lesions would heal again. Fantastic Adventures, Sep. 1947, pp.10 69. In Episode 44 of the NightMerica podcast, released 3rd February 2021, David L. Sloan gave an interview to Aaron Sagers about the story, and discusses an article he found in the Detective Cases magazine, published in 1982. As if this case wasnt already bizarre enough, it takes an added sci-fi turn. And make sure to watch out for her new upcoming podcast Seven Deadly Sinners!Rachel O'brien ComedyFor a great article on this case written by one of our listeners, Addison Nugent, check it out on OZY.com!The Woman of his Dreams Died, But He Didn't Let That Pull Them ApartThanks to our sponsors!Pretty LitterGet the worlds smartest litter without leaving home by visiting PrettyLitter.com and use promo code MORBID for 20% off your first order. When a Cuban-American woman named Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos walked into the hospital, the doctor saw before him an actual dream come true. A local Cuban- American woman by the name of Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos was brought into the hospital by her mother for an examination. Arriving authorities quickly determined that this doll was, in fact, Hoyos herself, and they arrested Tanzler for grave robbing. If they only knew what was going on inside his home. Hoyos was suffering from tuberculosis, and despite Tanzler's efforts, she passed at 22 years old. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Whether this is true or not, well never know the answer. When the King grew tired of the feisty and headstrong Countess, he had her exiled, and she stayed that way for 49 years until her death. While working at the U.S. Marine Hospital, on April 22, 1930, Carl Tanzler came face to face with the woman of his dreams. Mesa left for Miami, leaving Elena alone as her illness worsened (Harrison 1996). Tanzler immediately recognized Hoyos as the woman from his dream. The Key West Citizen, 15 Aug. 1952, p. 1 + 4, Perez, B. Elena's body was reclaimed and buried by the family in a secret location so that neither Von Cosel or the curious could disturb her grave. It was the biggest media frenzy of its day. At home with her corpse, Carl set to work repairing the damage done by decomposition. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos married Luis Roberto "Louis" Mesa. Morticians found him beside his life-size replica of Maria Elena Hoyos, a mannequin reproduction that featured a mask of Elenas face. He was examined by doctors and found to be perfectly sane though it remains a mystery of how he lived with a corpse for so many years. Finally, I want to acknowledge Elena herself. Tanzler never met this mysterious woman. Instead, Marias mummified remains were put on display at Dean-Lopez Funeral Home. Human jealousy has robbed me of the body of my Elena, yet divine happiness is flowing through me, for she has survived death. In the early 1900s, approximately 110,000 Americans would die each year from tuberculosis. "[8] By all accounts, Hoyos was viewed as a local beauty in Key West.[1][8][9]. She reported him to the police, and Carl was arrested. Tanzler immediately recognized her as the beautiful dark-haired woman that had been revealed to him in his earlier "visions. Considered one of the most toxic herbs, it has been used as a deadly poison throughout history (Wood, Coulson, Thompson and Bonner 2020). Von Cosel visited her gravesite for two years, a mausoleum in Key Wests City Cemetery. Hoyos examination at the Marine Hospital confirmed her worst nightmare: she had tuberculosis, a fatal disease in 1930 that mainly affects the lungs. (1996). He reportedly said he felt her spirit come to him when he sat by her tomb and serenaded her with her favorite Spanish song. Though the story is known and historical, not all of the events therein are common knowledge and thus, so too is the true extent of the indignity that Elena suffered. The town's people crowded the funeral parlor, eager to see the macabre curiosity. Image credit: Florida KeysPublic Libraries, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Whichs been recounted a million and one times. iUniverse. The findings of which were most prominently reproduced in an episode of HBOs Autopsy series: I found a tube [in Elenas vagina] wide enough to permit sexual intercourse. Maria Elena Milagro De Hoyos Birth 31 Jul 1909. To his absolute horror, Elenas putrefied body had begun to deteriorate. [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]. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Just 21 years old, and 32 years younger than Tanzler, Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos was brought to the hospital for an examination. There are no photographs or other sources to prove this. There, he met Cuban-American Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos and became instantly infatuated. Carls madness was discovered. With the consent of her family, Carl paid for Marias funeral and erected an elaborate mausoleum for her corpse. It isnt very far off to believe that necrophilia played a part in this twisted romance, but its important to remember these claims are not fully proven. He wrote his autobiography in 1947, and received American citizenship in 1950, because whats more American than defiling a dead body? You can always change this later in your Account settings. He restored her corpse, then kept her cadaver for seven years. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Elena was the daughter of local cigar maker Francisco "Pancho" Hoyos (18831934) and Aurora Milagro (18811940). He was charged with wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorization, but the statute of limitations saved him from prosecution. Little did they know, Elena, my darling, we are alone on this shore. He had also used flowers and other scents to keep out the odor. Try again later. Doris continued to support her deranged and estranged husband financially. Finally, she suggested that her son return to his sister in the United States Tanzler's account of Trial Bay Gaol, his secret building of a sailboat, etc., is confirmed by Nyanatiloka Mahathera, who mentions that he planned to escape from the Gaol with "Count Carl von Cosel" in a sailboat, and provides other information about the internment of Germans in Australia during World War I. At this point, Carl had lost his job at the hospital and was living in a remote shack which also housed his laboratory. Instead of a cure, she found a radiologist named Karl Tanzler who instantly became obsessed with her. Tanzler von Cosel, K. The Secret of Elenas Tomb. [6], Around 1920, following his return to Germany, Tanzler married Doris Schfer (18891977). This American Life. How can these immense, unfounded claims be made? In 1940, Floridas infamous necrophile went on trial for desecrating the body of Elena Hoyos. He wanted his soulmate to always look like the woman he fell in love with even after death. For his final diary entry, Carl had written: Human jealousy has robbed me of the body of my Elena, yet divine happiness is flowing through me for she has survived death. In 1940, it was finally over. Von Cosel had told me once: I have spent my whole life. Similar credit must be given to Miki Meek for giving a very well researched and academic podcast four years ago for This American Life, and to Tracy Weller of the Mason Holdings group for the podcast The Lost Diaries of Elena Hoyos, which finally revealed much of Elenas personality and early life. Whether he meant me I did not know and cared less (p. 37). 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. Fans of Tanzler travelled to give him treats, public sympathy portrayed him as an eccentric romantic, an attorney offered to represent him pro bono and Elenas body was put on public display to be viewed by over 6,850 people at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home (Tanzler von Cosel 1947, Michelfelder 1982, Harrison 1996, Sloan 2012, Meek 2017). 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). It was there in 1930 that Tanzler met the woman he believed was the love of his life; Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos. Provoked by Von Cosels unapologetic behavior, the judge decided to bury Elena in an unmarked grave. American Hauntings writes that it's unlikely she ever requited his affections. She died on October 25, 1931 at the age of 22. . cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Standing above him as he died was a wax figure of Maria. Carl Von Cosel had preserved her corpse for seven years. All right reserved. He constantly applied disinfectants, deodorizer and formaldehyde to counteract the smells of putrefaction. There is a problem with your email/password. Perez, B. As they autopsy her body, for a second time, they discovered that she was removed from her tomb two years after her burial. He carried on his love affair with her corpse. Sadly, the story does not end here, and it takes a Weekend at Bernies sort of twist, but with some added necrophilia. Once home, Tanzler stitched Hoyos decomposing body back together, attaching the corpses bones with wire and coat hangers. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos' family knew of Carl Tanzler's infatuation, per Atlas Obscura. His obituary said that a metal cylinder on a shelf above a table in it wrapped in silken cloth and a robe was a waxen image.. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. 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. He developed an obsession with a young Cuban-American tuberculosis patient, Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos (July 31, 1909 October 25, 1931), that carried on well after her death. For the past eighty years, the story of Elena Hoyos has been told primarily through the point-of-view of Carl Tanzler, a man who portrayed himself as so in love he could not bear to live without her. Oops, we were unable to send the email. It was there that she met Dr. Carl Von Cosel, a doctor who was working to find a cure. Additionally, there is his threat towards Elenas father if there is not a wedding before Christmas, there will be a funeral (Michelfelder 1982, p.56) and his declaration to Perez that he would kill Elena if necessary (n.d., p 68). Concocting potions and tonics out of gold, Tanzler would shock Elena by connecting electrodes to her body via transformers and then give her medicinal wines. This [incident] makes so much sense. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. To her parents, this was a kind gesture, but this was only where the obsession began. He loved her, but no evidence has surfaced to confirm that Hoyos reciprocated his love. Tanzler didnt seem to get bored living with Hoyos corpse. It should be stated, he too had a wife and two young kids albeit he neglected to mention this in any of his writings. In 1952, Tanzler was found dead by police on the floor of his home next to a wax replica of Elena. Men True Adventure, n.d, pp. Despite her illness, she was still an attractive young woman, and her beauty didnt go unnoticed by Tanzler. This all seems like silly speculation, to get people to read an old story. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. When Carl von Cosel was released he set out to find his mother from whom he had not heard since the beginning of the war. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It turns out that Carl Von Cosel was married with children the entire time. Forever and ever she is with me. 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. Tanzler was evidently consumed by obsessive lust for Elena. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Tanzler was undeterred though and searched the streets every night until a sympathetic neighbour told him of the location. He replaced her former beauty with ghoulish, frightening features. Photo Credit: DeWolfe and Wood Collection in the Otto Hirzel Scrapbook CC BY 2.0 . Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. It seemed to be someone admitting to killing someone. One night in 1933, he snuck her body out from the mausoleum in a toy wheelbarrow, and took her home with him. He would buy her gifts and dote on her, and did everything in his power to heal her, but she succumbed to the illness. There is sufficient evidence to state that Tanzler, if not experiencing loathing towards Elena herself, experienced much loathing towards the people and situations around her. Learn about the chilling embalmed corpse of the blushing bride La Pascualita. Maria was 21 years old, and the daughter of a Cuban cigar maker, whose life was already marred by tragedy. I have sent you to the angels with my golden elixir (p. 7 8). Tanzler was psychiatrically examined and found mentally competent to stand trial on the charge of "wantonly and maliciously destroying a grave and removing a body without authorization. He was a cultured and intelligent man who had traveled across the world, to countries like Italy, India, Australia, Cuba and the Netherlands. The public mood was generally sympathetic to Tanzler, whom many viewed as an eccentric "romantic". I foremost would like to acknowledge writer and historian David L. Sloan. Carl claimed Maria began talking to him from the other side, telling him she was afraid of decaying and rotting. He inserted glass eyes into her orbitals, and replaced her rotting skin with silk cloth coated by plaster of paris and wax. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Tanzler quickly abandoned his brood after accepting a position as a radiologic technician in Key West, where he worked at the U.S. Marine Hospital under the name Count Carl von Cosel. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 36 37. Not only were reporters sympathetic to Count Von Cosels May-December romance, jurors acquitted Von Cosel of the theft, preservation, and mistreatment of Elenas cadaver. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. She was only 22. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. After Von Cosel's arrest, Key West put Elena's body on exhibit. 6, no. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. His home was near his wife Doris, who apparently helped to support Tanzler in his later years. Learn about one of Key West's most haunted homes. Historically, the Cosel family seemed to be haunted by bad luck. Weller, T. The Lost Diaries of Elena Hoyos Vols. After Hoyos sister showed up at Tanzlers home in 1940, the jig was up. In any case, Hoyos was determined to have tuberculosis, which was deadly in those days. The mausoleum Carl had Elena laid to rest in. Back to Carl: despite being in his 50s and resembling Sigmund Freud, he did not inhibit himself from making strong advances towards young Maria. Yet Carl Von Cosel was unable to resist peeking at Elena Hoyos. + Sloan, D.L. He was proud of the excellent attention hed given to her preservation and thought mistakenly that Elenas sister would feel the same. Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos (1910-1931) died of tuberculosis and her body was preserved by Carl Tanzler (1877-1952) who was one of her physicians. But thats easier said than done, right? 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. Even though you start off the story, just as all others have recounted, as being fact. He replaced Marias brittle broken bones with coat hanger wire, and stuffed her torso with rags to keep her body in its original shape. At the end of the war no prisoner was permitted to return to his former residence, but all were shipped to the prisoner's exchange in Holland. The Living Doll of Key West: Elena Hoyos & Count Von Cosel. Maria Elena 'Helen' Milagro de Hoyos, a 20-year-old local Cuban American woman, was the same dark-haired woman Tanzler had visions of and who was to be his true love. Maria Elena Milagro De Hoyos, known as Elena, walked into a Key West hospital suffering from a fatal infection of tuberculosis. [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. Despite everything, the statute of limitations had expired for the crime he was accused of committing, leaving Tanzler free to go. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. This browser does not support getting your location. Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos (1909 - 1931) Photos: 4 Records: 23 Born in Key West, Monroe County, Florida on 31 July 1909 to Francisco "Pancho" Frank Hoyos and Aurora Sifontes. Try again. 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]. This went on for two years. On April 22, 1930, Maria Elena "Helen" Milagro de Hoyos came to him for an examination and he was persuaded that she was the lady in his dreams. His negative publicity was a small price to pay for such an excessively grotesque desecration. He adopted his official nickname, Count Carl von Cosel. Sympathists flocked to Von Cosel, excusing his bizarre behavior as an act of love. Resend Activation Email. [1][8] Tanzler showered Elena with gifts of jewelry and clothing, and allegedly professed his love to her, but no evidence has surfaced to show that any of his affection was reciprocated by Elena. Of Key West 's most haunted homes as Elena maria elena milagro de hoyos autopsy photos walked into a Key.! Support Tanzler in his later years they lived and died and where they are.. 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