SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Last fall, the Sangamon County Coroner and Sheriff's Office found decomposing bodies at Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville, Illinois. WAND News has learned state regulators knew about issues in the funeral home months before, but did not revoke the director's license.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon told reporters a local hospital called his office to say there had been a body sitting in the morgue for a month. But then he learned the deceased woman's family was already given her ashes. He later discovered this family, and dozens more, were given the wrong cremated remains.Â
Allmon later went to Heinz Funeral Home, with deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, to seize 40 sets of ashes along with three unrefrigerated and decomposing bodies.
Since then, the Macoupin and Sangamon County State's Attorneys have been working with police to determine if criminal charges will be brought against Heinz Funeral Home director Albert Heinz.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has since revoked Albert Heinz' funeral home director license. A consent order states he can never work as a funeral home director or embalmer. He also can never work at any funeral home or cremation service provider in the state.
But in newly released documents, WAND News has learned the department knew there were problems at Heinz Funeral Home months before Allmon's investigation.
Under the law, anyone intentionally violating preparation room procedures and rules could face a Class 4 felony.
The Morgan County Coroner, Marcy Patterson, and Carlinville Police Department went to Heinz Funeral Home March 8th. They removed an unrefrigerated decomposing body, after family members called the coroner's office for assistance. Patterson said another decomposing body was also removed by police.
Redacted emails show Patterson called IDFPR investigators in April, and filed a formal complaint with IDFPR in June. Yet Heinz Funeral Home was not shut down by IDFPR until October 4th, days after Allmon and the Sheriff's Office removed ashes and bodies from the facility.
IDFPR staff were not available for questions or comment. WAND News will continue following this developing story.
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