Count Carl von Cosel, a German expatriate who arrived in America in 1927, was a doctor who specialized in tuberculosis patients. That is to say, he claimed to be a doctor, and a count, but he was neither, merely an X-ray technician named Karl Tanzler. Nevertheless, he found work in Key West, Florida, treating TB patients who, at that time, had little hope of recovery. Among the patients in his hospital, he met Elena Milagra Hoyos, a beautiful young Cuban woman. Von Cosel fell in love with Elena, showering her with gifts and working on experimental treatments for her, but it was not to be. She died in 1931, at 22.
I simply cannot rephrase what happened over the next nine years, so I quote from Voltini:
. . . Unable to stand the thought of his darling Elena rotting underground, Von Cosel designed and built for her an ornate mausoleum. Her body was disinterred, placed in a new metal coffin and housed in the crypt. Night after night, Von Cosel sat next to her coffin and began, he believed, to communicate with Elena. She begged him to release her from her "prison" so they could be together.
Unable to resist, one dark night in April 1933, Von Cosel stole Elena from the crypt and took her to his airship (which he had christened "Countess Elaine" - one day, he planned to fly with Elena to the stars). Here, he began the job of resurrection. For the next seven years, he held her body together with piano wire, put glass eyes where her real ones used to be, made a wig of her own hair and, piece by piece, strengthened her skin with wax and silk. He treated her with lotions and potions and electrotherapy. Amongst his resurrection tools was a million volt tesla coil. He serenaded her with his home-made organ and slept beside her.
By 1940 the rumours could no longer be ignored. Elena's sister confronted Von Cosel and found the body. The Count was arrested and imprisoned to await trial for "malicious and wanton disfigurement of a grave."
However, Von Cosel could not be prosecuted. He had exhumed Elena's body in 1933, and when Elena's sister discovered her, the two-year statute of limitations had run; no other charge could be filed against him. Declared sane by a Florida court, Von Cosel received an unexpected outpouring of support from the community, many of whom believed he was a consummate romantic. Although Elena's body was reburied in secret, Von Cosel continued his life with "her" almost as before, caring for a wax doll he made from a death mask of Elena. He even showed his Elena to tourists on occasion. Von Cosel died in Florida in 1950.
I cannot imagine why there isn't a movie about this, preferably starring Ian McKellen.
Further web reading --
Madmen and Supervillians: Dr. Von Cosel
Wikipedia (which is skeptical about certain rumors concerning a prosthetic tube in her body)
Sleep Station, Von Cosel (a theme EP, with songs available for free)
. . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Secret of Elena's Tomb (another album)
"Karl von Cosel's Bride" on myspace (no link provided because I certainly would not encourage people to look her up and laugh at all her animated gifs, because she is a Vampyre, so beware)
