Karl Tanzler And His Corpse Bride: A Love That Would Not Die with Ben Harrison

The story of Elena Hoyos and the man who called himself Count Carl von Cosel is a Key West legend. It's a true story if unbelievable in its macabre details. Karl Tanzler, though everybody still refers to him as Von Cosel showed up in Key West in the 1920s where he worked as a radiologist at the local hospital. That's where he met Elena Hoyos. She was a beautiful young Cuban-American woman who had tuberculosis. Von Cosel fell in love with her, and he treated her for her illness. When the treatments did not work and she died that didn't end their story. Two years later, he took her body from the mausoleum and lived with it.... For seven years.

My Special Guest is Ben Harrison
Ben Harrison is the author of Undying Love, a shocking true Key West story of a passion that defied death. In writing this definitive and mesmerising tale of the most obsessive love imaginable, Ben Harrison did his homework thoroughly, studying numerous press accounts from the 1930s as well as the von Cosel memoir. What makes Undying Love so special are the interviews Ben conducted with those old enough to have known the story participants and the way things were in Key West during the 1930s...

Ben has been a guest on The Howard Stern Show, This American Life, Dr. Demento, The Dick Cavett Show and more. Winner of the Adeline Turner Award for Outstanding Performing Artist, he has recorded ten studio albums and is currently working on his fourth full-length theatre musical.

"Ben Harrison separates fact from myth and untangles the thread of intrigue in this gothic tale of obsessive love and melancholy madness."

Danny Elfman, musician, composer, record producer, and actor.

 "This story has it all. Obsession, madness, even a sweet May December romance."

Florida Sun Sentinel

Karl Tanzler

Karl Tanzler, also known as Count Carl von Cosel, was a radiologist in Key West, Florida, who developed an obsession for one of his patients, Elena Milagro Hoyos. The beautiful young woman died from tuberculosis in 1931. With her parents' permission von Cosel had an above ground mausoleum built for her. He visited the tomb every night and by 1933 he had taken the body home.

Elena Hoyos

Elena de Hoyos came from a small family. They couldn’t afford an elaborate funeral after her death, her father made cigars and her mother was a maid. The Count made sure that Elena received a proper burial instead of the shoddy wooden box, which was the plan according to her family. Tanzler had Elena buried in a huge mausoleum, equipped with lighting, electricity, and a telephone connected to Elena’s grave.

In this episode, you will be able to:

1. Delve into the story of The Count and Elena, who they were and how their stories became entangled

2. Explore the responses from the local and wider community, family and friends

3. Hear from Ben Harrison on the subject who spent years researching and interviewing people around this case

4. Gain an understanding of the historical backdrop of Key West at the time.

If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content.

Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.benharrisonkeywest.com/undying-love

https://www.facebook.com/benharrisonkeywest?ref=hl

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