State moves to revoke license of Chicago Heights crematory accused of improperly storing bodies
The Illinois comptroller’s office has suspended and is moving to revoke the license of a Chicago Heights crematory at the center of a state investigation into the mishandling of bodies, comptroller's officials said.
Heights Crematory Inc. had its license suspended Monday after state investigators found hundreds of boxes of unclaimed cremated remains on the premises, as well as a refrigerated container holding 19 bodies the facility had accepted after it had agreed to stop accepting new remains during the state investigation, the comptroller's office said Monday in a news release.
The comptroller's office — which oversees privately owned cemeteries, crematories and funeral homes — is now moving the facility’s remaining 10 bodies to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and is trying to reunite other remains with families and find missing documentation for each.
“I am appalled, disgusted and deeply saddened by the disrespect Heights Crematory showed to the remains of the deceased, and we are working swiftly to strip the facility of its license,” Comptroller Susana Mendoza said in a statement. “No family should have to wonder what happened to their loved one when they pass or learn a deceased family or friend wasn’t treated with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve.”
Heights Crematory Inc. declined to speak to a Sun-Times reporter Monday.
In February, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association received a tip with photos showing bodies in a trailer on the site of Heights Crematory, 230 E. 11th St., prompting the state investigation, Abdon Pallasch, a spokesperson for comptroller’s office, told the Sun-Times last week.
The comptroller’s office has cited Heights Crematory for similar violations after three surprise inspections last year. In October, the crematory closed for four days to address ongoing issues.
Heights Crematory has been closed since the state’s investigation began Feb. 19, when investigators told the facility’s owners that it couldn't accept any new cases until existing ones are completed. But operators allegedly continued to take in additional remains.
In the ensuing investigation, officials have also found many of the remains lacked one or more of the documents necessary for cremation, such as a signed death certificate, a signed cremation authorization from next of kin or a cremation permit.
This was determined to, in part, be caused by funeral directors dropping off remains without the proper documents or in proper containers, though it was Heights Crematory’s responsibility to seek those out, the comptroller’s office said.
A hearing on Heights’ license revocation will be held April 11.
Contributing: Kade Heather