Penal Code section 642

Every person who wilfully and maliciously removes and keeps possession of and appropriates for his own use articles of value from a dead human body, the theft of which articles would be petty theft is guilty of a misdemeanor, or if the theft of the articles would be grand theft, a felony. This section shall not apply to articles removed at the request or direction of one of the persons enumerated in section 7111 of the Health and Safety Code.

Source: Section 642, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=642.­ (updated Jan. 1, 1939; accessed Jun. 25, 2025).

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Verified:
Jun. 25, 2025

§ 642's source at ca​.gov