300 Bodies Stacked at Morgue Finally Laid to Rest
The Chicago Archdiocese, along with the Cook County Funeral Directors Association has finally buried the 300 bodies found stacked in a Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
According to reports, human remains had been stockpiled in the Cook County morgue's coolers. Many of the bodies were laid one on top of the other, which outraged their families. That was back in January, and now the 300 bodies have finally been laid to rest, thanks to the actions of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The Archdiocese, which oversees Catholic cemeteries, offered 300 graves and full funeral rites to the families. "Catholic Cemeteries have been part of this community since the beginning, and we bury the dead because it's a corporal act of mercy," Cardinal Francis George told ABC News.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Many of the bodies were unclaimed, with no family attending their funerals. At least 120 unborn children were buried on Wednesday, according to ABC. Cardinal George made sure that they all received full rites and honors during the massive ceremony.
Calls have been made for the county medical examiner to be released as a result of mishandling of the bodies. Normally, medical coolers can hold 300 bodies, but the Cook County morgue at one point held 363, which led to a complete breakdown of identifying remains and ensuring they received proper treatment.
County board president Toni Preckwinkle has stated that the morgue is due for a complete overhaul, which may include the firing of Dr. Nancy Jones. Perckwinkle has also created new positions at the morgue to ensure nothing like this happens again.
"We've seen a considerable reduction in the number of remains in our care and custody," Preckwinkle told ABC.
"We don't have it completely fixed now," Cook county sheriff Tom Dart said. "Through the kindness of the Catholic Cemeteries, we're taking care of some of it now. But we are trying to make sure it's taken care of so we don't have to ever hear a story about this again."
