Ohio Man's Zombie Nativity Scene Ordered Taken Down

Zombies have been in the cultural spotlight for quite some time, starring in hit TV shows such as AMC's grisly "The Walking Dead" and even infiltrating Jane Austen knockoff novels, namely "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." But there are limits to all cultural icons, and one Ohio resident found out the hard way: Jasen Dixon has been ordered by officials in Sycamore Township to remove the zombie-themed Nativity scene he has put up in his front yard, reports Huffington Post.

"I wanted a Nativity scene and I worked with what I had," Dixon told WXIX-TV in Cincinnati, explaining that his three Wise Men made of skeletons and a "demonic looking" zombified baby Jesus came from the haunted house he manages in Rising Sun, Indiana.

Township Administrator Greg Bickford told Cincinnati.com that it's nothing against zombies -- it's a zoning issue. He claims the manger takes up too much space in the front yard. But Dixon, who's received two violations for the zombie-themed creche scene so far, isn't buying it. "I know if it was a real pretty Nativity scene they wouldn't be saying anything."

Unless he wants further penalties, Dixon has until Friday to get rid of the setup. He told the Columbus Dispatch that he hasn't decided what he's going to do yet, and feels that the order violates his constitutional rights to free religious expression.

"The neighbors don't like it," Dixon told WXIX. "My father hates it and anything bad that happens, he blames it on that. On the average we probably get 30 or 40 cars stop and taking pictures, getting out with their camera. People that follow zombie movies and stuff like that love it."