Illinois Shuts 2nd Chicago Crematorium as 50-Plus Boxes of Ashes Surface
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 8
Illinois Shuts 2nd Chicago Crematorium as 50-Plus Boxes of Ashes Surface
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 8
Summary
Bohemian National Cemetery and Crematorium was shut down as Illinois expanded its South Chicago Chapel investigation to a second crematorium tied to the Morgan family.
More than 50 boxes of cremated remains are now being held by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, adding to the 56 decomposing bodies already found at South Chicago Chapel.
The case echoes a 2025 shutdown of the Morgans' Heights Crematory, where nearly 500 boxes of ashes—some 16 years old—were confiscated and Clark Morgan lost his crematorium license.
Because funeral homes and crematoriums are licensed by different Illinois agencies, South Chicago Chapel could still handle bodies despite that earlier action; the medical examiner says it will identify the dead and cover cremation or funeral costs.
How did a known violator legally keep running a funeral home while hiding dozens of decomposing bodies from state regulators?
With a new oversight law delayed until 2027, how many more facilities might be hiding similar horrific secrets right now?
56 Decomposing Bodies Found: Inside the 2026 South Chicago Chapel Disaster and Illinois’ Death Care Oversight Crisis
Overview
In August 2026, a complaint about improper storage of human remains at South Chicago Chapel led regulators and police to uncover 56 decomposing bodies in unsanitary conditions, prompting a hazardous materials response and a major investigation. This tragedy echoed a 2025 disaster at Heights Crematory, where the same operators, Clark and Johanna Morgan, had over 100 bodies improperly stored, resulting in lawsuits and new state legislation to close regulatory gaps. Despite previous license revocations and fines, systemic monitoring failures allowed the Morgans to continue operating, leaving grieving families traumatized and exposing critical weaknesses in Illinois’ oversight of funeral homes.