Authorities have identified all 55 bodies discovered at a funeral home on Chicago’s Southeast Side this summer, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Initial reports had indicated 56 remains were found at the South Chicago Chapel, but officials later confirmed the correct number was 55.

The identification process included DNA testing, which clarified that a bag of preserved organs initially thought to be separate was actually part of a previously identified body. Natalia Derevyanny, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office, provided these details as part of the ongoing investigation into the unprecedented discovery.

The remains were uncovered on August 6, when state regulators and police entered South Chicago Chapel during an active funeral service. The scene that greeted them raised alarms. According to law enforcement sources, some bodies were found in plastic bags placed on gurneys, while others rested on shelves mixed with cleaning supplies and miscellaneous items such as spray cans and cardboard boxes. Several corpses were reportedly uncovered or only partially covered, and some exhibited signs of partial dismemberment.

This discovery sparked widespread concern about oversight and regulatory enforcement within the local funeral industry. Investigations have highlighted significant lapses in state monitoring, which allowed the operators of the South Chicago Chapel to continue their work despite previous regulatory issues.

The case attracted international attention following initial reports and remains under review as authorities assess possible repercussions and broader systemic reforms within the death care sector.