"This can never happen again": Lawmakers, advocates call for new funeral home regulations following Heinz investigation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Sen. Doris Turner says Democrats and Republicans need to work together this year to ensure Illinois funeral homes never mishandle bodily remains again.

The Springfield Democrat wants to create an identification system for all human remains. Turner told reporters Thursday that her plan could also establish a chain of custody for families to know where their loved one is from death to burial or cremation.

Turner stressed that no family should have to worry their loved ones aren't being handled with love and respect.

"This is a situation that has really become a nationwide issue with similar cases in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Tennessee," Turner said.

Family members impacted by the mishandling of remains at the Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville stood alongside Turner and Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon Thursday. They stressed that Heinz and other funeral homes knowingly mishandling remains should be held accountable.

"I talked, prayed and cried with who I thought was my mother," said Dylan Bricker. "My mom's friends and loved ones came out. Some even came from states away to say goodbye to my mother only to find out it wasn't her. She was still in the morgue at the hospital where she laid on a table for almost close to a month."

Allmon has led the investigation into Heinz and explained he continues to get new calls from concerned families each day. The coroner said his staff was at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield Thursday to exhume more remains involved in the investigation.

Allmon noted that nearly 80 families throughout the country have been impacted by Heinz. That was a key reason the Allmon helped Turner draft her legislation last fall.

"This identification system is something we can all get behind," Allmon said. "I think it's non-partisan. I think it's common sense."

Local Republican lawmakers have filed a separate plan to charge any funeral homes or crematoriums who knowingly misidentify or mishandle remains with a Class 4 felony.

"We paid what was to be a reputable veteran-owned company to ensure my mother's dignity in passing," said Elizabeth Bricker. "That company and its owner did everything but preserve her dignity. In the weeks following, I was and still am inundated with messages of condolence and appreciation for the pain we are suffering."

Sen. Bill Cunningham said this type of situation is unthinkable for grieving families. The Chicago Democrat represents parts of the southwest suburbs and recalled how employees at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip were accused of digging up bodies and re-selling burial plots in 2009. Investigators found a deteriorating casket of Emmett Till covered with debris and a tarp in garage on the cemetery grounds.

Cunningham told reporters Thursday that he couldn't believe Illinois families are dealing with this type of situation again.

"When you go through that, you're not in a position to make difficult determinations and regular consumer decisions," Cunningham said. "That's why we need to have some sort of regulatory regime in place that ensures that people who have lost a loved one are protected."

The General Assembly could discuss both plans when they return to Springfield on February 20.