More than 50 bodies found improperly stored and decomposing at Chicago funeral home

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement on Thursday it was notified of bodies being improperly stored at a mortuary on the south side of Chicago. Authorities have found over 50 bodies improperly stored at a Chicago funeral home More than 50 bodies were found improperly stored and decomposing at a Chicago funeral home on Thursday, prompting a hazardous materials response and efforts to identify the remains and notify relatives, authorities said.

Illinois state officials, meanwhile, suspended the license of one of the funeral home’s directors — alleging bodies were being kept in an unrefrigerated area in “deplorable conditions” — and said the owners previously ran a crematory that was shut down after improperly stored bodies were found there. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said it was notified by state and local officials that bodies were being stored improperly at South Chicago Chapel, and investigators and forensic pathologists were dispatched. The remains were in various states of decomposition, officials said.

“Staff is assessing the conditions of the remains, searching for documentation regarding identification of the decedents as well as death certificates. This process could take several days to ensure proper disposition,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement. No arrests have been announced, but city police said detectives are investigating.

Neighbors told local media outlets that there was a horrible smell coming from the funeral home area. Messages for the funeral home were left by phone and through its website Friday. State business records show that funeral director Johanna Morgan incorporated South Chicago Chapel Inc.

in 2022 and her funeral director’s license was temporarily suspended on Wednesday. The state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said the license suspension was due to “a finding that Respondent’s continued practice is a danger to the public safety, interest and welfare due to Respondent allowing multiple decedents to be kept in an unrefrigerated area with deplorable conditions including rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation of the bodies.” The state business records also list Clark X. Morgan as the funeral home’s president.

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said it revoked the funeral director license of a Clark X. Morgan and fined him $10,000 in 2024 for practicing with an expired license and “unprofessional conduct” that it did not specify. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Friday that Johanna and Clark Morgan previously ran a crematory in Chicago Heights, south …