More Than 50 Bodies Found at Chicago Funeral Home

State investigators are examining alleged failures in how the deceased were handled.

An investigation is underway in Chicago after more than 50 bodies were discovered in poor condition inside a funeral home on the city’s Southeast Side. The discovery was made Thursday at South Chicago Chapel after state officials requested help from Chicago police during an inspection of the business. Police officers entered the funeral home as part of a license investigation requested by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Once inside, officers found numerous bodies stored throughout the building, including inside closets and an attached garage. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later sent investigators and forensic staff to examine the remains.

Officials said the bodies were in different stages of decomposition. Medical examiner staff are working to determine the identities of the deceased and reviewing documents that may include identification papers and death certificates. The process is expected to take several days because of the condition of the remains and the number of people involved.

State records show that the director and embalmer license of Johanna Morgan, who is listed as the funeral director for South Chicago Chapel, was temporarily suspended on August 5. According to these records, the suspension was based on claims that several deceased people were being kept in areas without proper refrigeration. The records describe the conditions as extremely poor and include allegations of rodents and maggots contributing to decomposition.

An earlier case involving Heights Crematory, where Johanna Morgan and her husband, Clark Morgan, faced state action in 2025. The couple agreed to close that facility rather than proceed with a state hearing. That earlier case also involved the storage of bodies under poor conditions. Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said her office had been told that they were accumulating at the crematory. Auditors later found bodies in unsuitable containers and discovered that some were being kept inside refrigerated trailers and coolers that didn’t function properly. Mendoza’s office also found an additional refrigerated trailer that had not been disclosed during the investigation. Nineteen bodies from Indiana were reportedly stored inside that trailer. Mendoza eventually ordered Heights Crematory to close permanently through a consent order. Ten bodies and hundreds of cremated remains were later transferred to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Frank Dower, a neighborhood resident who said he regularly visits family nearby, said unusual odors recently surfaced in the area. Dower said the smell had been strong enough to cause concern, although the source was not known at the time. The Chicago Fire Department responded to the building, but officials later clarified that there was no hazardous materials incident. Fire crews assisted with gaining access to the building rather than responding to a hazmat emergency. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or provided a full account of how long the remains were on site.

As investigators continue examining the funeral home, state officials will determine what further action may be taken against the business and those responsible for its operation. The medical examiner’s work to identify the bodies and review records is expected to continue for some time.

Sources:

Dozens of decomposing bodies found in Chicago funeral home

Remains of 56 People Found Improperly Stored and Decomposing at Chicago Funeral Home