The Gruesome Tale of Carl Tanzler and Elena De Hoyos | Well I Never 

The cut scene from the old picture to him was priceless. "I don't think it's a good look for me. " 🤣🤣 that was gold.

I'd rather think about this from Elena's perspective. You're very sick, go to receive treatment where an old man sees you and starts professing his love to you. Then he starts pushing strange treatments on you, all while continuing to attempt to woo you, and those treatments don't work. You tell him you don't have feelings for him, but he continues to make advances. All of this as you are getting weaker and weaker. When you die, said creepy old man visits your corpse EVERY NIGHT, and I have heard he had a telephone installed in the mausoleum. Then he steals and mutilates your corpse. He's not romantic. He was obsessed and wanted to own Elena, and since she was not interested in him in life, he waited until she could no longer consent to get what he wanted. If she had not died, no one would call him a romantic. They would call him a stalker, kidnapper, and a rapist.

She wasn't his bride she was his victim and he was a controlling, dilusional, abusive stalker.

This one actually made me openly say “well…I never”

Felt so sad for Elena. She didn't even like him and he got away with desecrating her body after she died. I'm so relieved her family had her put peacefully into an unmarked secret grave . Sick individual. 🤮

Well, I never heard a more creepier story so well told...

This man was an out and out perverted abuser. Unbelievable that he got away with his depravities

"I'm not sure this really... a good look for me..." WHY WAS SO THAT SO ADORABLE!? 😍

It's so creepy how he made the face look so unnatural and eerie and yet he wasn't bothered one bit. This stuff when it's between individuals who had a deep unbreakable bond in life, like the tradition when the elders pass and the family cares for them, that may be macabre but yet equally heartwarming and understandable. BUT this guy had no connection of this sort to the one who's now dead and he disregarded everything that wasn't related to him gaining full control over something he has no right to when she was alive and he has no right to when she died. He then grossly violated her, yet was convinced he was being romantic and caring and compassionate but in reality he was being so disrespectful and inconsiderate to "the love of his life's feelings" and for sure traumatized her family members. I don't know if anyone else has noticed but we still see today people who are obsessed with a "lover" in their eyes and they are convinced in their mind that they are only doing things out of love because they just love them so much, but in reality they are Full on Stalkers, they're damaging the other person's life's and harming itthe with very unhealthy uncomfortable behavior. Yet they are blind to it. I feel terrible for the family of her's

That man was a creep, a stalker and since he couldn't handle being told "no" by a woman, poisoned her and took her dead body in order to accomplish his sick fantasies. He wasn't eccentric. He was a horrible person.

The photo of the people (including children) who flocked to see the body, many of them with beaming smiles, makes you realize how much society has changed since 1940.

The people romanticizing this story seem to not realized that this was not a stoy of star crossed lovers, but a story of a man abusing and commodifying a woman's body AFTER her death. This story shouldn't make people go "awww" It should make them shudder in fear! It's a prime example of the fact that women cannot be safe from obsessive and abusive men, even after their death.

This guy was just evil. The fact that he possibly poisoned her to end her suffering was more likely to gain control over her since she was not submitting to his advances. I can only imagine how traumatic this was to her family in the face of this discovery.

is it weird that I'm listening to this to get to sleep? not because it's boring, but because Paul has such a soothing voice!!

I plan to start pronouncing 'unscrupulous', 'necrogamy' and 'effigy' just like you say them. Yes, I'll struggle a bit to work the last 2 into casual conversation, but the whimsy it will add to my Southern drawl will be worth the effort.

Imagine leaving your young wife because she miscarried… poor girl, in her short life her experience with men was so sad 🥺

That news photo of people looking at her body is the grimest thing I've ever seen. Who in their sane mind takes their kids to go view a corpse?!?!

It is deeply immoral for a physician to profess love for a patient. That is just the beginning of Tanzler’s depravities. Plus the fact that he had abandoned his previous wife and children makes him an atrocious human being.

the subtle humor in this episode is just brilliant. thank you again, sir for a great episode.

Elena did not love Tanzler in the slightest. She was still in love with her estranged husband, and hoped to eventually win him back once she was better.

Best “Florida Man” story yet!

I first heard about this story on Autopsy (HBO) it is so creepy. That's a man who didn't understand "no." Her poor family - that had to be so traumatic.

I've heard this tale several times. But. I never heard it told quite so eloquently as you did today. Love the skull with the rose!

Oh my god!! For 7 years? This story was absolutely fascinating! Your storytelling was perfect, as always!

My great-grandfather was from Key West and remembers all the school children being let out to see her body at the Lopez funeral home. He also participated in picking up the corpses that had been flung out of their graves during the big hurricane. Key West is a very haunted place! The book Tanzler wrote about his perspective of the events is fascinating as well.

In no way, shape or form was this 'love'. This is all so heinous, I am surprised they could not charge him with something else, like mishandling a corpse, but perhaps there weren't laws of that sort then. I cannot imagine the pain this caused her family. They are the ones who deserve compassion here!

I find the whole thing horrifying. There was no live involved. Just lust and obsession from a controlling crackpot. He didn't care what she felt or wanted. As far as he was concerned she BELONGED TO HIM from the moment they met. Nothing anyone said or did was going to change his mind. Had she lived he would not have hesitated to kidnap her, to force her into doing what he wanted.

Poor Elena. This guy was an obvious obsessive abuser. Your excellent narration and wonderful sense of humor made this story more bearable. Thank you for such an informative video. 🖤

I remember a video about this case in the 90s. Stuck with me because of how weird it was, even for a case of necrophilia

I just love the matter-of-fact delivery with that wickedly dry wit! Perfect companion to Mr. Ballen's animated story telling, and both channels full of the "strange, dark, and mysterious."

Rolling her home in a toy wagon is just……. darkly comedic

Well I was stunned and wondering how Karl Tanzler came back to life when I saw the narrator who exactly looks like the same😂

Hold on...😂😂😂 glad you took those glasses off because he is your twin!

I have read that when Carl left Key West he blew Elena's original tomb up. Also the airship he had was where he hoped to bring Elena back to life. He did claim that he actually did bring her back to life for a short period and when she tried to get up he told her take it easy as she had been dead for quite a while. It was certainly a very strange case for sure... I also read that the kids in the photo were given the day off school to go a view Elena and that naturally they were scared witless by it. One kid claimed that he had nightmares about it for years afterwards... Can't say I'm surprised can you?

Brilliant editing at the start. 😉

I'm a 5 th. Generation Conch Which means I was born in Key West. You have done a great job telling this story Sir. Several of my family members are in the crowd photo. As young kids we were always told if we weren't home before the street lights came on at night Von Cassel would get us. It Worked well until we reached our teen years. Lol. Ben Harrison wrote a book telling the story it's well worth the read it is partly taken from Von Cassels memoirs. The section about having to get the casket over the cemetery fence is really something. Von Cassel blames the smell on the caskets rotting wood after everything leaks down on him as he is getting it over the fence. BTW: Did you know Key West seceded from the U.S. in 1980? Mayor Wardlow Declared we are "The Conch Republic" Raised our new flag, fired a shot into the air and surrendered immediately. This made Key West qualified for millions of dollars in Aide money. Saving all our local businesses. Another strange fact even though we are the Southernmost point of the U.S.A. and the End of U.S.highway #1 we were Union during the civil war we have 4 civil war forts on our island and Fort Jefferson that sits 70 miles out to see due west of our Island. It played a major part in the war by capturing Confederate ships carrying supplies. We had over 300 captured ships by wars end in our harbor. We have the Atlantic ocean on the south side and the Gulf of Mexico on the North side of our 4 by 6 mile long island. Dr. Samuel Mudd was imprisoned on Fort Jefferson you can still visit his cell today.

"A bit weird"?! That's what's called understatement 😳

I'm reminded of Tim Burton's wonderful film 'The Corpse Bride'. I always imagine some Hollywood mogul approaching Burton and saying, 'Listen, Tim. We need a film about necrophilia, right? But it's gotta have a PG certificate, so the kiddies can see it.'

I am glad you took your glasses off! You looked too much like Carl with them on! Haha!

Oh gosh that intro was beautiful, I chuckled so hard my diaphragm hurts.

0:22 that was a great transition, and a bit creepy to be honest

I try to avoid commenting on Tubers vids. However, Mr Well-eye, you’ve caused me to break myself imposed rule... To say, I really like this version of costume and lighting. I have enjoyed your outdoor posts, which have a more casual and lesser antique vibe. Also, I’d love to walk the same streets as you, but as an Aussie on a disability pension you I have to sadly admit that’s impossible. Thank you for your research and impassioned presentation. Kudos

He took stalking to a whole other level

This man was strange indeed, He was in love,...or was it love?, The woman in question was young, beautiful and more likely baffled as to this older man making advances towards her and becoming relentless, she probably felt sorry for him at first then most likely got annoyed at his advances, told him it was NOT possible, but he kept on,..He took her body after she could no longer refuse him, forced himself on her remains, He basically wanted her any way he could have her! ..it was about what HE wanted, not what SHE wanted, If she had survived the illness, she would most definitely go be with her family and had nothing more to do with Doctor creepy! He wanted her and that was that, he wanted her to love him in return and that was that!..He never cared for her true feelings, he ignored them...it was about HIS wants & Needs. The guy was a Narcissistic, Necrophilies, Stalker, Grave robber, Liar and creep!...Romantic?...Nothing Romantic about grave robbing or necrophilia, He KNEW she hadn't felt the same way, but forced her remains to live as his bride, He raped her remains, He raped her spirit, He raped her memory!...I hate the thought of this woman looking in on her remains and witnessing his vile acts upon them. This is a man who abandoned his own wife and children to seek a Job at a hospital, where he LIED about his credentials and capabilities...a Narcissistic Ghoul!!..

The missing body reminds me of Eva Peron. She had a large and beautiful mausoleum where her body was to be displayed for her people to pay respects to. Within a year her body was stolen and it still has not been recovered.

Not in love just wrong in the head . This actually made my skin crawl.

The whole thing at the end about his "Poisoning Her" to end her suffering, I had read that he might have hastened Elena's departure because of some of the tonics and treatments he gave her. So perhaps when he felt he could do no more, he helped her out! Fascinating and bizarre case for sure!

Remember that movie “mannequin”, I always felt creeped out by it, even with Kim Catrel. This bizarre tale dregs up that same feeling perhaps because it is that same grotesque peversion. Love=mourning at the grave site, bizarre weirdo=this guy.And I have to say, well I never!

This reminds me of a scene from the movie "Inside the Darkness". It's horrible that this actually happened. He was just obsessed. Thanks for sharing the story. Well, I never...

It always skeeves me out when people try to paint this as a love story.

Hi, guys! I remember reading about this case years ago. He was determined to get what he wanted. She didn't want it. These days, this would never fly.

I really really enjoy this channel. You guys are doing a fantastic job!

You superceded yourself on this one! Your cadence and videography make for an eerily lulling bedtime tale ... generally how I tend to watch your videos. This one sent me on a research wormhole into Tanzier's psychopathology and deep diving this truly idiosyncratic man and case. Poor woman. My only sympathy lies with her and her family ... from a modern day perspective this is ten shades of murder, abuse, desecration and sexual predation pre and post portem plus too many others to list, including the public display which is as ghoulish on the part of the civilian side. Any romanticization of the man, at least with time she can now be seen as the sad victim she truly was, too many times to count.

Thanks always for these stories. Keep them coming please ! Epic

Another excellent presentation. Your videos are always incredibly informative. Even if it's a story I've heard before, you bring new and interesting info every time. Thanks for the great content!

Wow... what a story. Thanks as always.

Excellent presentation. You, sir, are adorable!

Once again, thank you. Your posts are the finest ones around «here».

I heard about this a while ago but I could never find the video so I'm glad your covering it

We have a saying where I'm from. "Crazy as a betsy bug." I'm pretty sure that fits this situation.

James, when you talked about the history of people "marrying dead loved ones" for whatever reason, how could this have been legal since the deceased would not be able to agree ie, say 'I do" or sign the Marriage Certificate?? The only way I can answer your question at the end, is simply to say that Tanzler was indeed a very odd soul. Cheers 🍻!

I am totally addicted to your channel!! Love, Love, LOOOOVVVVEEEE it!!!😍😍😍

I'm so happy to have found your channel today. These videos are well made. I really enjoy true, strange stories. Spooky, crazy or just interesting is what I like a lot.

Seems kinda sexist that people were willing to forgive him so easily. And like you said, the family probably didn't share that understanding.

You are such a brilliant story teller.

I've see this covered on so many channels but, your intro is superb. This is sooooooo disturbing, beyond imagination. Really didn't want to watch it again but, wanted to see if you could spin it. You did a good job storytelling once again.

Thanks for your wonderful narration of this story. Always a treat to tune in 🙂 I was a tour guide in Key West (a 'ghost host', lol). I covered this story and made a stop at the gravesite. Fascinating and horrific at the same time. Part of my tour was also a stop at the Martello museum, which housed Robert the Doll. That was actually my favourite part. Perhaps you'd like to cover that story as well.

A great story Paul, thank you xx

Well, I never! What a wild story! Thank you for sharing Also, I recently learned about The Great Molasses Flood in Boston. I think it is a topic that would make a great video because this historic event is seemingly ridiculous but actually horrifying. If you included the newspaper accounts of the event, it would add to the retelling! Just a topic I thought I’d share!

I first saw this story years ago on the HBO show autopsy. Creepy then, creepy now.

Definitely a cause for Well I never! And by the way I like the glasses on you!😊

I have seen this story before. He was a very strange and unstable man. Im not sure if he did poison the poor girl or not. Im surprised that it took all that time for the sister to figure out that he had taken her sisters corpse. God bless her soul

Great job

I'd prefer a deathbed wedding before a funeral wedding.

This is the second time you covered a story that was used by the german band Subway to Sally as inspiration for a song! I listened to them a lot in my teenage goth years and it's just so interesting to get the details of these stories. "Schwarze Seide" (=black silk) is the name of the song - if you're interested, give it a listen!

I'm a huge fan of this show. Well done. The opening intro is priceless

Great stories and story teller

Forgot to put in my comment below - thank you. Fir the story, the photos, and above all your classy, quiet presentations

Hahaha! Loooove the intro! Great storytelling, very informative, entertaining, and intelligent. Thank you.

That’s crazy, he was dancing with the evidence. How could the crime time be up when he was still committing the crime. Madness.

I am fairly new to your channel. Wish I could subscribe 5x! Thank you, Good Sir!

I remember hearing about this on a spooky special in October on TV years ago...but you,sir, tell it way better!

You're a true lover. One who's make these tales very interesting. Thanks.

This story reminds me of the other one about that Russian lunatic who dug up the bodies of little girls and turned them into his dolls. Complete with replacing the faces with creepy homemade masks. He even stuffed a music box inside one of them, god knows why.

Ever seen Bluejays animation about this? Hysterical. Your version is much more informative, and you are a joy to listen to.

I like your story voice 👍👍..Youre good at telling them odd ones 👍👍👍👍👍

My favourite “Love story” told by my new crush! Just started the video,but I’m super excited!!! I really hope this gets into the weather balloon to take her corpse above the atmosphere, etc

Bloody hell man, you made me laugh! Then you have to have a laugh sometimes with this gruesome content eh? Thanks for the upload, your new subscriber from Oz! 🦘

We need an episode on your life sir.

Anyone else notice how much he looks like the subject of the video lol the transition from that picture in the beginning was perfect

Ahahahaha I’m glad he was well aware he looked a lot like Tanzler. I love this channel.

Obviously intentional but rather disturbing, when Tanzler’s face dissolved into yours in the opening scenes, there was that remarkable similarity. Very cheeky that! “He was found on the floor behind an organ” I bet he was!

I completely adore this!

That opening was great.

I wish you were my History teacher.....

Mr Ballen covered this story not long ago. There are a few minor details that are different between the two tellings of this story. Very bizarre either way

Very, very grim story. But also, very interesting 🧐

What in the world this is crazy the very interesting enjoy the videos that you put out

Never heard of this. I did say well I never. Great episode.

Love this channel! The host & subject matter is always spot on. Watched all of them now, would love to see one on someone like Ted Bundy or Jim Jones & Peoples Temple if you are taking requests