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The Brief
Nine of the 56 people whose remains were found at South Chicago Chapel on Chicago's Southeast Side remain unidentified, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
The office said it has identified 47 of the 56 sets of remains recovered from the funeral home. Forty-five families have been notified, according to NBC Chicago.
Investigators are continuing identification work, with the most difficult cases involving remains in advanced stages of decomposition. The medical examiner's office said its teams are using multiple forensic methods to establish identities and provide answers to families.
What We Know
The 56 sets of remains were discovered at South Chicago Chapel, located at 2939 E. 95th St., after Chicago police responded to concerns about how bodies were being stored at the facility.
Investigators found the remains in various areas of the funeral home. Police records described bodies that had not been stored at the required temperature and were in different stages of decomposition.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has been working with other authorities to identify the individuals and notify their families.
Forensic teams have used medical records, dental examinations and other identifying information. The office is also using rapid DNA technology in the most difficult cases. When necessary, DNA comparisons are being handled with assistance from Illinois State Police and the FBI.
The medical examiner's office has also received dozens of boxes containing cremated remains from the funeral home. Those remains cannot currently be identified by the office, and authorities are working to locate possible next of kin.
State regulators have suspended funeral director Johanna Morgan's license. Investigators have also examined the previous record of the funeral home's operators, including problems involving the handling of human remains.
What's Next
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is continuing its effort to identify the nine remaining sets of remains.
Officials have said the most difficult cases involve remains in the most advanced stages of decomposition. Investigators are continuing forensic testing and will use outside agencies when additional DNA comparisons are necessary.
The investigation into the funeral home's handling of the remains also remains active. South Chicago Chapel is closed, while state officials continue regulatory proceedings involving the funeral home's operator. NBC Chicago reported that Johanna Morgan is scheduled for a state hearing in late September, when officials will consider whether to revoke her funeral director license.
A civil lawsuit has also been filed against the funeral home over the alleged mishandling of remains.
The medical examiner's office said its work remains focused on identifying the deceased and helping families obtain answers and arrange appropriate final dispositions.
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