A bill to strengthen penalties for interfering with the body or scene of a death passed the Minnesota House without opposition Thursday, 124-0.
Authored by Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, the bill known as "Laura's Law" is directed toward crimes similar those involving 18-year-old victim Laura Schwendemann of Starbuck. Schwendemann's body was found in a Douglas County corn field 12 days after she was reported missing last fall.
"It is gratifying to see such strong support for this bill," Anderson said. "There are still a few more hurdles to clear in the process of enactment and I look forward to continuing our efforts to get this bill enacted."
The bill would make interfering with the body or scene of a death with intent to conceal the body or evidence, or otherwise to mislead the coroner or medical examiner, punishable as a felony. The change would raise the maximum penalty to up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000 or both.
The current gross-misdemeanor label limits the maximum penalty for such a crime to 365 days in jail and a fine.
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The proposal now is in the hands of a conference committee, which will work to reconcile differences between Anderson's House bill and the companion authored by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria.
