3 weeks ago
More Than 50 Decomposing Bodies Found at Chicago Funeral Home
In Chicago, police and health inspectors found more than 50 bodies kept the wrong way inside a funeral home called South Chicago Chapel.
The bodies were left in a room without cooling, and some were already falling apart.
People who live nearby had smelled a bad odor for months and complained to the city.
The funeral home was run by a married couple, Johanna Morgan and Clark Morgan.
The state took away Johanna's license, and Clark's license had already been taken away before.
This was not the first problem for the couple, because they used to run another place where bodies were not handled well either.
Inspectors are working to find out who each person was and will then contact their families.
No one has been arrested yet, but detectives are still investigating.
Many families are very sad and upset, and some people nearby are angry that nothing was done sooner.
More than 50 decomposing bodies — 56 in total, per officials — were found improperly stored at Chicago's South Chicago Chapel on Thursday.
Neighbors had complained for months about a persistent 'stench' coming from the funeral home before the discovery.
Illinois regulators suspended co-director Johanna Morgan's license after finding bodies kept in unrefrigerated, 'deplorable' conditions with rodents and maggots.
Johanna and Clark Morgan previously ran Heights Crematory in Chicago Heights, whose license was revoked last year over mishandled remains.
No arrests have been announced, and police corrected an earlier report that the scene had been declared a hazardous-materials incident.
- Who
- Johanna Morgan and Clark Morgan, the husband-and-wife operators of South Chicago Chapel; the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and Illinois regulators are investigating, and State Comptroller Susana Mendoza condemned the discovery.
- What
- The discovery of more than 50 decomposing bodies improperly stored in unrefrigerated conditions at a Chicago funeral home.
- Where
- South Chicago Chapel on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.
- When
- Thursday, August 6, 2026, after months of neighbor complaints about a stench; the funeral director's license had been suspended the day before.
- Why
- Authorities allege the operators mishandled remains — leaving bodies in deplorable, unrefrigerated conditions with rodent and maggot infestation — endangering public safety and welfare.
Key facts
- Bodies found
- 56 decomposing remains (more than 50)
- Location
- South Chicago Chapel, South Side of Chicago, Illinois
- Discovered
- Thursday, August 6, 2026, after months of neighbor complaints
- Johanna Morgan license
- Temporarily suspended Wednesday
- Clark Morgan license
- Revoked in 2024
- Prior incident
- Heights Crematory (Chicago Heights) license revoked last year; hundreds of cremated remains unreturned
- Arrests
- None announced; investigation ongoing
- Official response
- Comptroller Susana Mendoza called the case 'heartbreaking and an abomination'
Quotes
Illinois state officials
State officials overseeing funeral homes
“"Horrified. Again," Mendoza said in a statement. "The discovery of decomposing remains waiting to be laid to rest this week at a South Side funeral home is heartbreaking and an abomination."”
NDTV
“Horrified. Again. She described the case as heartbreaking and an abomination.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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