No action has been taken by the Wisconsin Legislature on a bill to formally criminalize necrophilia. State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, introduced Senate Bill 247 on July 25, a day before the state Court of Appeals issued its own sex-with-a-corpse ruling. It said sex with a corpse isn't a violation of the state's sexual assault laws, agreeing with a ruling last fall by Grant County Circuit Judge George S. Curry.

On Aug. 10, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said prosecutors would appeal to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court the appellate court's dismissal of sexual assault charges against three southwest Wisconsin men accused of trying to unearth a young Cassville woman's corpse to have sex with it in August 2006. The court does not have to agree to hear the case.

Schultz was contacted by Grant County Sheriff Keith Govier after the arrest of the three men. Govier said enacting legislation would allow law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to directly address the crime.

The men also face misdemeanor attempted theft charges, but proceedings on them have been postponed pending the appeal.

"You'd think a state which unfortunately has seen the likes of (serial killers) Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer would have addressed this issue long ago," Schultz has said of why he wrote the legislation. "It's time we strengthen our laws and offer a deterrent to these sick acts against deceased loved ones."

Lawmakers have been busy working on a budget. Democrats and Republicans had been stymied over taxes and spending far beyond the July 1 budget deadline. On Friday evening, Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders said they had reached a budget agreement that would raise cigarette taxes by $1 per pack but kill proposed taxes on hospitals and oil companies.

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