Dozens of bodies found improperly stored at Chicago funeral home

Key Points:

• Over 50 decomposing bodies were found improperly stored at South Chicago Chapel, a funeral home operated by a couple previously involved in a similar scandal with a crematory shut down for mishandling remains.
• Illinois state officials suspended the license of funeral director Johanna Morgan due to bodies being kept in unrefrigerated, rodent-infested conditions, leading to decomposition and maggot infestations.
• The discovery followed months of complaints from residents about a foul odor emanating from the funeral home, prompting investigations by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and local authorities.
• Community members and families of the deceased expressed shock and distress, with some having to identify remains and undergo autopsies amid the ongoing investigation.
• This case is part of a broader pattern of mishandled remains across the U.S. in recent years, including similar incidents in Colorado, Georgia, and Indiana.