Illinois Funeral Director License Suspended Over Storage
The state has suspended the licenses of a funeral director after investigators found decomposing remains at two facilities.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended the funeral director and embalmer license of Johanna Morgan following the discovery of 56 decomposing bodies at South Chicago Chapel in August 2026. The state alleges incompetent funeral practices and unprofessional conduct by Morgan and Clark Morgan.
Why it matters
These regulatory actions highlight systemic oversight of funeral home operations in Illinois following repeated discoveries of improperly stored remains. The investigations address critical public health and safety concerns regarding the professional management of deceased persons by licensed funeral directors.
Investigators identified 56 bodies in various stages of decomposition at South Chicago Chapel and 44 bodies at a Chicago Heights crematory. Johanna Morgan previously incurred fines of $1,500 and $5,000 for permit and record-keeping violations in 2017 and 2024 respectively.
The players
Johanna Morgan
A funeral director and embalmer whose state professional licenses were suspended following investigations into improper body storage.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
The state agency responsible for overseeing and licensing funeral directors and enforcing professional conduct standards.
Clark Morgan
A funeral professional accused alongside Johanna Morgan of incompetent practices and unprofessional conduct at their facilities.
The details
State regulators initiated the suspension following a pattern of reported failures in body storage and professional record-keeping. The investigation into South Chicago Chapel and the couple's Chicago Heights facility revealed dozens of bodies in states of decomposition. Formal settlement negotiations have occurred between the state and the director, with a final hearing to determine the status of professional credentials set for later this fall.
Timeline
Late 1990s: Johanna and Clark Morgan obtained their professional licenses.
2017: A $1,500 fine was issued for improper transport of a decedent.
June 2024: Two bodies were discovered in a minivan at the couple's residence.
June 2025: Investigators discovered 44 bodies at the Chicago Heights crematory.
August 2026: 56 bodies were found at South Chicago Chapel.
The Home Front
This case underscores the role of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in monitoring adherence to state funeral licensing statutes. The action follows a multi-year series of documented violations and investigations into the couple's professional practices.
Families with concerns regarding services provided by these specific funeral facilities should reach out to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Keep copies of any death certificates or contract documentation as officials continue to process the remains found.
The takeaway
Maintaining professional accountability in sensitive family services is a critical component of state regulatory oversight. Families seeking information on this investigation should monitor updates from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as the state moves toward a formal hearing.
What happens next
A formal hearing regarding the permanent status of the funeral director and embalmer licenses is scheduled to take place in late fall 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local service oversight in the Home Cleaning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
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