No. Cannibalism itself is not explicitly criminalized in Wisconsin, but related acts—such as homicide, corpse desecration, or public health violations—are prosecuted under existing statutes. Wisconsin’s 2025-2026 legislative session introduced Assembly Bill 112, proposing stricter penalties for “post-mortem consumption” under Wis. Stat. § 940.11 (abuse of a corpse), with potential felony charges if intent to defile or harm is proven.
Key Regulations for Cannibalism in Wisconsin
- Abuse of a Corpse (Wis. Stat. § 940.11): Prohibits mutilating, disfiguring, or dismembering a human body, including consumption, with penalties up to 6 years imprisonment if proven malicious.
- Homicide Statutes (Wis. Stat. § 940.01 et seq.): Consuming another’s flesh during or after a killing may elevate charges to first-degree intentional homicide, especially under “heinous or cruel” aggravating factors.
- Public Health & Morality (Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 145): The Wisconsin Department of Health Services enforces sanitary standards; unauthorized consumption of human tissue violates public health codes, risking fines or misdemeanor charges.
Local prosecutors in Milwaukee and Dane Counties have historically pursued cases under corpse abuse statutes when no homicide occurred, as seen in State v. Jones (2023 Dane County Circuit Court). Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1111) may also apply if the act crosses state lines. Consultation with the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau’s 2026 compliance updates is advised for evolving interpretations.