Read more to learn about the history of the grave robbers.

Bodysnatching became so prevalent an activity because not only was the crime just a misdemeanor, and so the punishment was merely a fine, but the activity was lucrative as medical schools and doctors paid handsomely. Now, with refrigeration nonexistent at the time bodies decomposed quickly, which meant that there was a constant stream of demand for cadavers. Body snatching became so prevalent that when measures were taken by families to ensure their loved ones were not snatched, from waiting long after the burial at a family members grave to ensure no grave robber removed their loved one to the use of iron coffins and iron bars to keep grave robberes from stealing freshly dug dead.