Chicago Funeral Home Found With 56 Decomposing Bodies

The discovery of 56 decomposing bodies at South Chicago Chapel, a funeral home in Chicago, has sparked outrage after neighborhood residents reported a persistent odor for months. Illinois state officials suspended the license of funeral director Johanna Morgan, alleging bodies were kept in an unrefrigerated area with deplorable conditions, including rodent infestation and maggot infestation, as described by the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Discovery of Decomposing Remains

Authorities found the remains in various states of decomposition on Thursday, after neighborhood residents complained about a “stench” emanating from the funeral home. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the discovery and stated that staff were assessing the remains to identify decedents and locate death certificates, a process that could take days. Staff is assessing the conditions of the remains, searching for documentation regarding identification of the decedents as well as death certificates, the office said in a statement, adding that family notifications would follow once identifications were made.

Chicago police initially mischaracterized the scene as a hazardous materials incident in a preliminary statement, which they later corrected. No arrests have been announced, but detectives are investigating the matter. The funeral home, located on a South Chicago street, drew a small crowd of residents and families seeking information about deceased loved ones on Friday.

License Suspension and Previous Violations

The state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended Johanna Morgan’s funeral director’s license on Wednesday, citing “a finding that Respondent’s continued practice is a danger to the public safety, interest and welfare due to Respondent allowing multiple decedents to be kept in an unrefrigerated area with deplorable conditions including rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation of the bodies.” The suspension followed a history of violations, including the revocation of her husband, Clark Morgan’s, funeral director license in 2024 for practicing with an expired license and unprofessional conduct.

Clark Morgan, listed as the funeral home’s president in state business records, previously operated a crematory in Chicago Heights that was shut down after authorities found improperly stored bodies and hundreds of unreturned cremated remains. State Comptroller Susana Mendoza condemned the latest discovery, calling it heartbreaking and an abomination, and emphasized that these are people – someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend, and they deserve better.

Community Reaction and Resident Complaints

Blaise Von Bruchhaeuser, a community advocate for the neighborhood, expressed frustration that complaints about the funeral home’s odor had persisted for months before the discovery. It was upsetting that complaints about a terrible odor had been made for months before the decomposing bodies were found, she said. Latasha Johnson, a funeral home client, described her shock after learning her mother’s body had been among those found. I’m discombobulated, she said. My heart is broken.

Public records indicate that the Morgans, who run the funeral home, reside in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park. Messages left for them and their attorney on Friday remained unanswered.

Historical Context of Mishandled Remains

The South Chicago Chapel incident follows a series of similar cases, including the shutdown of the Heights Crematory, where authorities found improperly stored bodies and unreturned cremated remains. Both Johanna and Clark Morgan are named in Cook County court records as defendants in lawsuits tied to the crematory. State officials have emphasized the recurring nature of such failures, with Comptroller Mendoza stating, Horrified. Again, in response to the latest discovery.

While the Medical Examiner’s Office works to identify the remains, the families of the deceased face the emotional toll of delayed notifications and the grim reality of their loved ones’ improper storage.