# Decomposing Bodies at South Chicago Chapel > 56 decomposing bodies found at South Chicago Chapel funeral home in Illinois. - Title: Decomposing Bodies at South Chicago Chapel · Chicago Sun-Times - Summary: 56 decomposing bodies found at South Chicago Chapel funeral home in Illinois. Illinois authorities shut down South Chicago Chapel after discovering 56… - Keywords: south chicago chapel, illinois comptroller, funeral home oversight, decomposing bodies, illinois funeral homes, illinois crematories, illinois regulations, south deering, illinois department of financial and pro, illinois state comptroller, illinois building codes, illinois funeral directors - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/grave-injustice/explainer-south-chicago-chapel-funeral-home-illinois-comptroller-regulation-oversight-charges - Published: 2026-09-24T10:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: south chicago chapel, illinois comptroller, funeral home oversight, decomposing bodies, illinois funeral homes, illinois crematories, illinois regulations, south deering, illinois department of financial and pro, illinois state comptroller, illinois building codes, illinois funeral directors ## Decomposing bodies discovered Illinois authorities shut down South Chicago Chapel in South Deering after finding 56 decomposing bodies in August. > In August, Illinois authorities shut down South Chicago Chapel in South Deering after receiving a tip that owners Clark and Johanna Morgan were improperly storing bodies. ## Regulatory actions taken The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended Johanna Morgan’s funeral director and embalmer license, seeking permanent revocation. > After the investigation, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended Johanna Morgan’s funeral director and embalmer license, and the agency is seeking to revoke it permanently. ## History of misconduct The Morgans faced prior issues: a 2024 van incident, 2018 license suspension for tax issues, and a 2024 $10,000 fine for unprofessional conduct. > Evergreen Park police found two bodies in the Morgans’ van on their residential block in 2024. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended Clark Morgan’s funeral director and embalmer license in 2018 due to failure to file or pay state income taxes. In April 2024, the agency fined Clark Morgan $10,000 and revoked his license due to 'unprofessional conduct' and practicing on an expired license. ## Bohemian National Cemetery case Investigators found equipment failures and human remains at Bohemian National Cemetery in North Park after a July 21 tip. > In a separate case earlier this summer, investigators from the state comptroller’s office visited Bohemian National Cemetery in North Park after a July 21 tip. They found 'multiple equipment failures and some human remains waiting to be cremated that were not maintained at the proper temperature,' according to a statement from the comptroller’s office. ## Regulatory oversight gaps Illinois is one of four states without annual inspections of licensed funeral homes, crematories, or cemeteries, and has no physical location monitoring. > Illinois is one of four states, along with Alaska, Hawaii and Iowa, that does not conduct any inspections of licensed funeral homes, crematories or cemeteries, according to a 2025 survey from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. ## New regulatory law A new state law takes effect January 1, 2027, allowing the comptroller’s office to suspend crematory licenses immediately and inspect premises without prior hearing. > In the wake of recent investigations at Bohemian and Heights Crematory, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said she was 'thankful' a new state law taking effect Jan. 1 will allow her office to 'summarily suspend a crematory license without a prior hearing and immediately inspect the premises and records in egregious cases.' ## Lawsuits and legal actions Chicago is suing South Chicago Chapel owners for building code violations, seeking $11,500 per day in fines, while a Texas woman filed a potential class-action lawsuit. > The city of Chicago is suing the owners of South Chicago Chapel for a litany of alleged building code violations, including the failure to keep buildings 'clean, sanitary, and safe.' The city is asking a judge to issue a fine of $11,500 per day for every day the violations are not corrected. ## Criminal investigations ongoing Chicago police and Illinois State Police are investigating the South Chicago Chapel case, with the Cook County medical examiner still identifying remains. > Chicago police are still investigating what happened at South Chicago Chapel. In August, the Cook County medical examiner’s office was still working to identify all the deceased, as well as the cremated remains of at least 56 more people. ## State regulatory reforms Some legislators are discussing putting funeral homes, crematories, and licensing under a single authority, though no bill has been proposed yet. > State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, who co-sponsored the 2025 crematory legislation, said the state should consider putting funeral homes, crematories and licensing under a single authority. No bill has been proposed yet. ## Ongoing legal challenges The Morgans have been summoned to a hearing on September 24, 2026, for building code violations, with criminal charges still pending. > The Morgans have been summoned to the first hearing of the Buildings Department’s lawsuit on Sept. 24 in Cook County Circuit Court. ## Historical context South Chicago Chapel had a history of failed building inspections and delinquent property taxes, with city inspectors not conducting annual inspections for four years. > South Chicago Chapel had a history of failed building inspections. In addition, city building inspectors hadn’t done an annual inspection for the past four years. Property tax bills were also delinquent for the past two years, and the Illinois Department of Revenue issued four liens on the Morgans’ home from 2022 to 2026. ## State oversight structure Illinois regulates funeral directors through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, but does not conduct periodic inspections of facilities. > The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation regulates funeral directors and embalmers. The department can conduct in-person inspections without receiving a tip, but it is a complaint-driven agency and does not conduct periodic inspections on all facilities, according to the department. ## Criminal charges status Criminal charges have not been filed yet, despite demands from families and law enforcement. > Criminal charges haven’t been filed yet in spite of demands from families and people affected. Chicago police are still investigating what happened at South Chicago Chapel. ## State law changes A new law signed in summer 2026 expands the comptroller’s office authority to investigate crematories and impose fines up to $10,000 per violation. > After the Chicago Heights Crematory case, Mendoza spearheaded legislation that gives the comptroller’s office more investigative authority over crematories. The bill authorizes the comptroller’s office to suspend a crematory license immediately in extreme cases and immediately do inspections after receiving a complaint, and it raises penalties to $10,000 per violation. The bill was signed into law this summer and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. ## Public impact Families of victims are seeking answers about the location of remains, with some believing their loved ones’ remains are not in urns. > Sisters Franquella (left) and Marshawna Campbell stand with their mother’s urn outside the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in August. They went there to ask about the location of their mother’s remains. The two believe their mother’s remains are not in the urn, which contains a bag full of what they suspect are rocks, not ashes. The bag is labeled 'Bohemian National Cemetery.' ## Next steps Illinois authorities are working to reform funeral home oversight, with a new law taking effect in January 2027 and potential legislative changes to the industry. > In light of what happened at South Chicago Chapel, some legislators are talking about reforms. State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park, who co-sponsored the 2025 crematory legislation, said the state should consider putting funeral homes, crematories and licensing under a single authority. ## Key takeaway Illinois authorities shut down South Chicago Chapel after discovering 56 decomposing bodies, leading to regulatory reforms and lawsuits.