- More than 50 decomposing bodies were found improperly stored at South Chicago Chapel, prompting an investigation by authorities.
- Neighbors had complained for months about a 'stench' coming from the funeral home, which led to the investigation.
- The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office was alerted to the situation and sent a team to inspect the premises.
- Johanna Morgan's funeral director license was suspended by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation due to the conditions of the bodies.
- No arrests have been made yet, but police are actively investigating the case.
- Authorities discovered that the bodies were kept in an unrefrigerated area with rodent and maggot infestations.
- Johanna Morgan incorporated South Chicago Chapel Inc. in 2022, and her husband, Clark Morgan, is identified as the president of the funeral home.
- Clark Morgan's funeral director license was revoked in 2024 for practicing with an expired license and unprofessional conduct.
- Illinois has a robust regulatory framework for funeral homes, but there are no stipulations for annual inspections.
More than 50 decomposing bodies were found improperly stored at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home, leading to a state investigation and the suspension of director Johanna Morgan's license. Neighbors had complained about a stench for months before the discovery on Thursday.127
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office reported that the bodies were in various states of decomposition and that staff are currently assessing the conditions of the remains. They are also searching for documentation regarding the identification of the decedents and death certificates, a process that could take several days.
State officials described the conditions as deplorable, citing rodent and maggot infestations and a lack of refrigeration that contributed to the decomposition. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation stated that Morgan's continued practice posed a danger to public safety.
Latasha Johnson, who held her mother's funeral at the chapel just before the discovery, expressed her devastation, saying, "I'm discombobulated. My heart is broken." The funeral home, operated by Johanna and her husband Clark Morgan, has a troubled history, including a previous crematory that was shut down for mishandling remains.
State Comptroller Susana Mendoza condemned the situation, stating, "The discovery of decomposing remains waiting to be laid to rest... is heartbreaking and an abomination." Authorities are working to identify the deceased and notify their families as quickly as possible.
“The funeral home's director, Johanna Morgan, had her license suspended Wednesday for keeping bodies in unrefrigerated, rodent-infested conditions. Her husband, Clark Morgan, previously had his license revoked in 2024, and the couple ran a crematory that was shut down for mishandling remains.”
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