56 Bodies Found Decomposing At Chicago Funeral Home, Owner’s Licence Suspended

The remains of 56 people were found in various stages of decomposition at a Chicago funeral home, leaving families shocked and demanding answers.

The bodies were discovered Thursday at South Chicago Chapel on East 95th Street. Police found them in an unrefrigerated basement area. State officials said the conditions included rodents and maggots, and described them as “deplorable.”

The discovery came after neighbours complained for months about a strong foul smell from the funeral home. Some said they had smelled it for nearly a year.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is now working to identify the remains. Officials are checking death certificates and other records. The process could take several days before families are contacted.

The discovery also came during a funeral. Latasha Johnson said she had taken her mother to the funeral home that day. She later learned her mother's body would need an autopsy and that she may have to identify the remains.

Other families are also worried. One woman said her sister was cremated there and the family had already collected what they believed were her ashes.

Illinois has suspended Johanna Morgan's licence. Her husband, Clark Morgan, is listed as the funeral home's president. His licence was revoked in 2024.

The couple previously ran Heights Crematory, which was shut down last year after officials found about 100 bodies improperly stored and hundreds of cremated remains that had not been returned to families.

The funeral home also had no Chicago business licence, according to city officials. No arrests have been announced. Police are investigating.