A 26-year-old homeless man in Georgia has been charged with necrophilia after an investigation on a previous incident revealed he broke into a funeral home and had sex with a corpse, according to police.
Domonique Smith was initially arrested and charged Monday for stealing a bicycle from Hill Watson People’s Funeral Service in Columbus, the Ledger-Enquirer reported. He was served with the necrophilia charge while already booked into the Muscogee County jail after video surveillance placed him inside the funeral home Sunday night.
The charge carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.
“This is extremely rare,” Columbus Police Department Capt. Gordon Griswould told the Ledger-Enquirer, adding that he could not recall the last time there was a necrophilia charge in the county.
Police did not give details on the sexual acts Smith performed on the woman’s body or divulge the identity of the victim.
“We hold our families dear,” funeral director Cedric Hill said. “We look for the best protection and security for the families we have served in this community for 65 years.”
On Wednesday, Smith was back in court to face charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft. A judge ordered his bail at $20,000.
