SOUTH DEERING, Chicago — New details are emerging about the disturbing conditions investigators found inside a South Deering funeral home during a state raid earlier this month.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reveal the extent of what investigators encountered at South Chicago Chapel.
According to the records, investigators discovered 31 bodies stored in a non-refrigerated area where the temperature reached 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
The conditions inside the facility were described as deeply disturbing. Investigators reported finding maggots inside body bags, evidence of rodents and an overwhelming odor throughout the building.
The findings have prompted state action against the funeral home’s director and renewed demands for stronger oversight of the funeral industry.
Investigators Report Maggots and Rats Inside Facility
The state documents describe an inspection scene that investigators found difficult to comprehend.
Maggots were reportedly discovered inside body bags, while rodents had also gained access to areas where human remains were being stored.
Investigators said rats were “scurrying away” in front of them during the inspection. Some of the body bags were also found with rodent feces.
The odor inside the facility was described by investigators as “overwhelming.” The inspection also raised serious questions about how the remains were being stored and tracked.
Investigators determined that Clark Morgan, the husband and business partner of funeral director Johanna Morgan, could not provide chain-of-custody documentation for 30 of the 49 dead bodies identified during the raid.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has since identified 47 of the 56 bodies that were stored at the chapel.
Funeral Director’s License Suspended
Following the investigation, state regulators suspended Johanna Morgan’s funeral director license.
Morgan is scheduled to appear for a hearing before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in late September. After that hearing, the agency will determine whether her license should be revoked.
South Chicago Chapel is now boarded up and closed for business.
The Morgans have previously faced disciplinary action. Their funeral director licenses were each suspended twice in the past, and they have paid thousands of dollars in fines for previous violations.
The latest findings have now placed the funeral home’s operations under even greater scrutiny.
Officials Call for Stronger Funeral Home Oversight
Illinois Rep. Marcus Evans, who represents the area, strongly criticized the conditions investigators found.
“This was done by some of the worst actors, some of evil as individuals,” Evans said.
Evans said he is preparing legislation designed to tighten regulations on the funeral home industry and increase scrutiny of businesses responsible for handling human remains.
“There’s gonna be more inspections, there’s going to be more keeping our eyes on these individuals. Because the remains of our loved ones should be protected, the remains our loved ones should be respected,” Evans said.
The controversy has also renewed questions about how Illinois regulates funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries.
Previous Investigation Raised Similar Concerns
The Morgans have faced scrutiny before.
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In 2025, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza shut down a Chicago Heights crematorium operated by the Morgans after state officials reported finding bodies piled on top of each other and not stored in proper containers.
Mendoza and Evans have both argued that oversight of crematoriums, funeral homes and cemeteries should be placed under one state office.
Currently, regulatory responsibilities are divided between the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Comptroller’s Office.
Officials say consolidating oversight could make it easier to identify problems and ensure facilities are following rules designed to protect human remains and grieving families.
What Happens Next in the South Deering Case
The immediate future of South Chicago Chapel will depend in part on the outcome of Johanna Morgan’s upcoming disciplinary hearing.
Her hearing is expected in late September, when IDFPR will consider whether her funeral director license should ultimately be revoked.
Meanwhile, the disturbing findings from the raid have raised broader concerns about the safeguards surrounding deceased individuals in Illinois.
For families entrusting funeral homes with their loved ones, the case has underscored the importance of accountability, proper storage and accurate documentation.
What do you think Illinois should do to strengthen oversight of funeral homes and crematoriums? Share your thoughts in the comments.