New details have emerged about the legal problems faced by owners of a Southeast Side funeral home where dozens of decaying bodies were discovered on the property.
The findings come amid growing concern from customers who are worried about the conditions of their loved ones’ remains.
The state agency tasked with overseeing funeral homes said it suspended the license of the director, but there was a clear history of problems.
Meanwhile, families still have no idea what happened to their recently departed loved ones.
“I just want my mama’s body back, y’all can do whatever else you want, but just please give me my mama back,” one relative told NBC Chicago.
Families who sought funeral services at South Chicago Chapel experienced heartbreak and grief all over again after learning dozens of decomposing bodies were discovered.
“I got a call that his body wasn’t there,” said Angela Young, who is looking for her brother’s body. “We called the funeral home, no answers. They hung up on my daughters.”
Other families long suspected something was off – the smell was constantly sour.
Several sisters who spoke to NBC Chicago said their mother’s ashes felt more like crushed rock.
“The texture, the color, like they went to the beach and just got something,” the sisters said.
Shawnese Shannon, 61, died of cancer in April.
“My mama purchased this urn for herself, not for some damn rocks,” one relative said. “This ain’t my mama, my daddy cremated and their ashes look like ashes. this is rocks.”
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Chicago police and state agencies are investigating.
More than 50 bodies were found, according to state records, kept unrefrigerated in deplorable conditions like rat and maggot infestations.
Johanna Morgan, the funeral director, had her license suspended by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Her husband also had previous violations.
Last year, the Illinois Comptroller’s Office shut down the couple’s crematorium in Chicago Heights, alleging bodies were found piled on top of each other.
“We didn’t wait for some long drawn out process to take place, we immediately shut them down from taking additional bodies,” Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said.
So how did South Chicago Chapel keep taking bodies?
This is a crime, this is a crime, mishandling loved ones is a crime, make no mistake about it,” said Ald. Peter Chico of the city’s 10th Ward.
“Why if they closed down one facility, why didn’t they close this one down!?” Young asked.
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