I was in Whiterun when I installed Dragonborn and was immediately accosted by cultists there. Their corpses have now been lying in the street for everyone's amusemant for well over 30 days - long after Dragonborn's main quest was finished.

I've had this both in Whiterun and Ivarstead. On separate saves. Beat all the dlc quests. They are still there in Ivarstead.

Yep...I was wandering into Whiterun the other day, and Brenuin the wino looked at me and said "Wish people would clean up their mess".

Very sage I thought...even the npc's are criticising Beth.

Still there for me next to Breezehome since Feb 12. It is now March 9. Nearly a real whole month has passed.

I now sit, relaxed, in Lakeview Manor.

Aren't the corpses meant to persist to avoid issues with players not looting the quest item note? I threw my 2 into the Riften canol.

That's possibly why, though it doesn't make much sense for them to stay around after someone takes the note, or even finishes the quest line.

You can make them disappear with the 'disable' command in the console. I also found out today that the corpses are permanent

couldnt you reanimate them and take them to an ash friendly pile for out of sight ness

1000+ hours and I've never reanimated anything. Unless it's to protect a Dunmer tomb by individuals who consented in life, then Necromancy is EEVUL!

What's wrong with just throwing their bodies in a corner somewhere?