Northern Kentucky Man Sentenced After Living With Deceased Wife’s Body for Over a Week

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Ky. — A Highland Heights man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after authorities say he lived with his deceased wife’s body for several days before alerting anyone.

According to court records, 39-year-old Tyler Hern was convicted on a charge of abuse of a corpse after investigators determined he lived in the home with his wife, Laura, for roughly seven to ten days following her death in February.

Police say Hern eventually called 911 on February 3, telling dispatchers that his wife had died and referencing her history of pancreatitis, saying, “it didn’t go away this time.”

When officers arrived at the couple’s Grey Stable Lane home, they discovered Laura’s body on the bed, covered by a sheet, and showing clear signs of decomposition. Investigators noted that while she was deceased, Hern continued using her phone to message family members — apparently to conceal her death.

This report was compiled using information gathered from law enforcement statements, official press releases, and publicly available news sources.

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Medical examiners found no injuries or indications of foul play. Hern was not accused of causing his wife’s death but was charged for failing to report it and for remaining in the home with her body.

Along with his 15-month prison sentence, Hern was ordered to pay court costs.