City records reveal prior complaints to multiple agencies
City documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that the office of 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico made formal inquiries about the South Chicago Chapel at 2939 E. 95th St. months before an Aug. 6 inspection that uncovered dozens of decomposing human remains at the funeral home.
The records, reviewed by ABC7 and shared with city officials, indicate that between January 2021 and the Aug. 6 raid, multiple complaints, calls and service requests relating to the facility were submitted to city agencies. Among the items in those records were two requests from Chico’s office in the same week in September 2025.
- One request was filed with the city’s Department of Environment reporting an odor concern at the South Chicago Chapel.
- A second inquiry sought information from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection about whether the facility held a business license, after residents expressed worries about the business and its ownership.
"Looking for some assistance. Is there a business license for (crematorium/funeral home) South Chicago Chapel, 2939 East 95th Street, Chicago, Il 60617? We have received odor complaints SR25-01709020 from residents and we were provided with some concerning information regarding the business owner."
The statement appended, according to the records, added: "Residents are concerned and have brought this to our attention." That message is part of a series of documents — including calls and service requests — that city agencies compiled dating back to early 2021.
Inspection report details grisly findings
An investigation report from the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, produced after the Aug. 6 inspection, recounts the conditions found inside the chapel. Inspectors reported discovering numerous human remains throughout the first floor of the building, with bodies located on tables, in preparation rooms, in a public restroom and in an attached garage area.
The report documents that dozens of covered bodies were observed on tables, and at least one uncovered deceased person was found in a public washroom. Investigators noted that an uncovered adult male appeared to be missing a limb. The report also recorded that there were more than 50 decomposing bodies inside the facility; ABC7’s reporting cites a final count of 56 decomposing bodies discovered during the inspection.
| Event | Date (from records) |
|---|---|
| Earliest city complaints and service requests in records | January 2021 |
| Two inquiries from 10th Ward Alderman's office reported | September 2025 |
| City inspection that found decomposing remains | Aug. 6, 2026 |
Officials have said the Aug. 6 inspection prompted additional law enforcement and public-health actions. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s report is part of an ongoing review into the conditions at the chapel and the timeline of municipal responses to resident complaints.
Questions for agencies and neighborhood residents
Neighbors in the South Chicago community had previously raised concerns about odors and the operation of the business, prompting the communications from the alderman’s office identified in the FOIA records. The language in the records points to residents seeking assistance and to the aldermanic staff attempting to determine whether the business was properly licensed.
With the inspection report now public, focus will likely turn to:
- Why the complaints and inquiries recorded prior to Aug. 6 did not prompt an earlier, comprehensive inspection;
- Whether city agencies coordinated effectively in response to the reports and what enforcement actions, if any, were taken between September 2025 and the Aug. 6 inspection;
- The status of any criminal or public-health investigations tied to the discovery.
As the investigation continues, residents and local leaders are seeking clearer timelines and accountability for what the records describe as months — and in some cases years — of service requests and complaints related to the same address. City officials and investigators have declined at this time to provide additional details beyond the inspection report and the information contained in the public records reviewed by ABC7.
WE NEWS will continue to follow developments and report on any new findings, official statements, and the ongoing municipal and law enforcement responses tied to the South Chicago Chapel inspection.
