City Inspectors Report to Judge on Vacant South Chicago Chapel

Chicago City Hall will present findings from a comprehensive building inspection to the court on Thursday. The review covers the structure at 2939 E. 95th St. in the South Deering neighborhood.

The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The city announced on Friday that electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and demolition inspectors examined the facility. The proceedings will determine the next steps for the vacant building.

This legal action follows a lawsuit filed by the city. The complaint alleges that the owners of South Chicago Chapel committed 23 building code violations. The suit was prompted by the discovery in August of 55 bodies in various stages of decomposition inside the chapel.

State regulators noted that some remains were stored in areas without refrigeration. Those spaces contained rodents and maggots. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office spent approximately two months identifying all 55 individuals.

Johanna Morgan, the funeral director, had her license suspended following the incident. Her husband, Clark Morgan, previously faced scrutiny for license irregularities. Investigators found he altered the expiration date on his license after it lapsed in 2019. He continued using the forged document despite a $10,000 fine and repeated complaints.

The Illinois State Comptroller's office attempted multiple times to address issues with the crematory after the discovery. Separately, the family of Ronald Tyler, 76, shared video evidence with investigators. His daughter Terri Tyler stated that the decomposing state of her father's remains served as a clear warning about the chapel's practices.

The city maintains that the building is currently empty. The judge will hear the specific details of the inspector findings before ruling on the property's future status.