Sangamon County regional morgue facility officially opens Wednesday

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The new Sangamon County morgue facility held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate its opening today.

The new $6 million facility is located in the Sangamon South building, which was formerly the State Journal-Register building.

Sangamon County says it "brings autopsy, storage, investigative, and administrative functions under one roof, creating a modern, centralized hub for coroner services in Central Illinois."

In response to growing case volumes, the facility also has a refrigerator that can hold up to 50 bodies, and a freezer that can hold an additional 12.

"This has been a long time coming," said Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. "We've worked for years with borrowed space and fragmented operations. This new facility changes everything."

Most of the project was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Sangamon County says they saved taxpayers over $2 million by renovating the former State Journal-Register building rather than starting from scratch.

"This facility is the result of thoughtful planning and a fiscally responsible approach to government," said County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter. "We've created a high-quality resource for Sangamon County residents and for communities across Central Illinois — while making the most of taxpayer dollars."

The facility also has dedicated space for Saving Sight, a partner of Gift of Hope, the region's organ and tissue donor network. Saving Sight staff can now work on-site.

"This partnership helps support death investigation and more effectively serve families as we honor the decisions of those who save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation," said Gift of Hope Partner Relations Liaison Gina Martin.

The new facility is now open and fully operational.