Chicago authorities announced on Thursday (August 6) that 56 bodies were found inappropriately stored and beginning to decompose at a funeral home in the South Side of the city. The funeral home, operated by a couple, had previously run a crematorium that was shut down due to improper handling of bodies.
Several months ago, local residents noticed a “foul odor” emanating from the funeral home, prompting some to file complaints with the city government.
No arrests have been announced yet, but the police stated that an investigation is underway.
On the evening of August 7 (Friday), a few residents and people seeking information about their deceased relatives gathered in front of the funeral home. The funeral home is located on a tree-lined street in the bustling neighborhood of South Chicago.
According to The Guardian, 55-year-old Latasha Johnson said her mother’s funeral was held at a South Chicago church on Thursday (August 6). She recounted that the police informed her that her mother’s body needed an autopsy, and she had to identify the remains within days.
“I am distraught, my heart is shattered,” she said.
State business records show that funeral director Johanna Morgan established the South Chicago church in 2022, and her funeral director’s license was temporarily suspended on Wednesday.
The state government records reveal Clark Morgan as the president of the funeral home and the husband of Johanna Morgan. His funeral director’s license was revoked in 2024 for practicing without a valid license and for “unprofessional conduct.”
They also operated a crematorium, which was shut down by the state government.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza stated on Friday that Johanna and Clark had previously operated a crematorium in South Chicago, which had its operating license revoked last year due to improper handling of bodies, with hundreds of cremated remains never returned to families.
This is the latest in a series of mishandling of bodies incidents in the past three years.
Last month, two men were arrested by Pueblo, Colorado police for mishandling at least two dozen decomposed bodies and other remains at a funeral home.
Previously, in 2024, an investigation at a funeral home in Georgia uncovered 18 bodies in various stages of decomposition. In 2023, nearly 200 decomposed bodies were found inside a structure in Colorado, and in Indiana, 31 decomposed bodies were discovered at a funeral home.