Chicago authorities are conducting an investigation into a funeral home on the South Side after discovering over 50 bodies improperly stored and in various stages of decomposition. This news follows complaints from local residents about a foul smell emanating from the facility.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that state and local officials notified them of the situation at South Chicago Chapel. Upon investigation, forensic pathologists found remains in different stages of decay.
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Authorities were seen loading bodies into an SUV outside South Chicago Chapel. The medical examiner’s office is working to assess the condition of the remains, identify the deceased, and locate death certificates. According to their statement, this process is expected to take several days to ensure proper handling and disposition.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has suspended the license of one of the funeral home’s directors. The suspension stems from allegations that bodies were kept in an unrefrigerated area under “deplorable conditions,” including infestations of rodents and maggots, which contributed to the decomposition.
Currently, no arrests or charges have been filed, but Chicago police have launched a thorough investigation. Records show that Johanna Morgan, a funeral director, incorporated South Chicago Chapel Inc. in 2022. Her license was suspended, with authorities citing that her continued practice was a “danger to public safety, interest, and welfare.” The agency accused her of allowing bodies to be stored in unfit conditions.
The funeral home operations, led by a couple with a history of previous mishandling of remains, have raised significant concerns. Clark Morgan, identified as Johanna Morgan’s husband, served as the president of the funeral home, but his license was revoked in 2024 due to expired licensure and “unprofessional conduct.”
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Latasha Johnson, whose mother’s funeral had taken place at South Chicago Chapel shortly before the investigation, expressed distress upon learning that an autopsy would be required and personal identification of the body would be needed in the coming days. She conveyed her heartbreak over the situation.