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Cook Co. medical examiner ID’s 11 of 56 bodies found at South Chicago funeral home

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Families are left to wait as the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office works to identify the dozens of bodies found at a Southeast Side funeral home.

So far, at least 11 of the 56 remains found at South Chicago Chapel have been identified.

Meanwhile, no criminal charges have yet to be filed against Clark and Johanna Morgan, the couple operating the funeral home, as the investigation continues.

The medical examiner’s office says the process to identify the remains could take some days.

Dozens of improperly stored bodies, in various states of decomposition, were removed from the South Chicago Chapel on 95th Street on Friday.

More than 50 cremated remains were also found at the funeral home.

Meanwhile, families who used the funeral home share stories of heartbreak, anger and frustration.

Anayah Maize said her family planned to have her dad cremated at the South Chicago Chapel after he died in June.

Now as relatives are waiting to receive his remains.

“What we found out since the day that I last saw my father… no family should have to endure this,” Maize said.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which licenses funeral directors, says it has suspended the license of funeral director Johanna Morgan.

The license of her husband Clark Morgan was revoked in 2024 and the Chicago Heights Crematorium he owned was shutdown last year after more than 100 bodies were improperly stored there.

ABC7 has reached out to the funeral home for a response and has not heard back.

Authorities continue to update families about their loved ones’ remains.

Family members are urged to email MEOfamilyservices@cookcountyil.gov.

The medical examiner’s office said they would handle the cremation of decedents at no cost for all families who choose that option.

Families will also have the opportunity to work with a funeral home of their choice to make final arrangements.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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