West Central Reporter

Legislation has been introduced in response to a shocking incident involving a funeral home in Carlinville, which mishandled human remains and provided the wrong remains to grieving families. Senator Steve McClure, Representative Mike Coffey, and Representative Wayne Rosenthal have unveiled new legislation aimed at preventing such tragic events from occurring in the future.

Senator McClure expressed his concern for the families affected by these horrific acts, stating, "Families who have lost a loved one have suffered enough already, it is unconscionable for anyone to try to victimize them in their time of sorrow." He emphasized that this legislation seeks to ensure that human remains are treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and that those who violate the law are appropriately punished.

The investigation into the Carlinville funeral home began in the fall of 2023, when Sangamon County coroner Jim Allmon initiated an inquiry. The investigation revealed that the funeral home had provided the wrong remains to over 80 families, with some remains even being permanently lost. Additionally, the funeral home was found to have improperly stored bodies, allowing them to decompose in unrefrigerated settings.

Representative Wayne Rosenthal expressed his support for Senator McClure's legislation, stating, "Families that have been impacted by these horrible crimes by the director of this funeral home will have lasting grief." He affirmed his intention to file identical legislation in the House, emphasizing the need to prevent any family from enduring the suffering experienced by those affected by these criminal acts.

Echoing this sentiment, Representative Coffey remarked, "The state failed too many family members by not acting quickly on such heinous allegations that were brought forth against the funeral home director." He stressed the importance of passing legislation to protect families in the future and deter criminal practices within funeral homes.

The Carlinville incident highlights the shortcomings of current laws regarding the handling of human remains. To address these issues, Senate Bill 3263 has been introduced. This bill would classify knowingly and intentionally providing inaccurate documentation of the identity of human remains, storing human remains in violation of Illinois law, or providing misidentified human remains as a Class 4 Felony. The legislation would apply to all individuals authorized to treat, transport, or store human remains, including funeral homes and crematoriums.

Representatives Rosenthal and Coffey are filing identical legislation in the Illinois House, demonstrating their commitment to preventing similar tragedies in the future. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon expressed his appreciation for the officials' efforts, stating, "After working with dozens of people that were victimized by these egregious acts, it was clear that there needed to be some common sense legislation introduced to help prevent or deter this from happening again."

The proposed legislation aims to ensure that the handling of human remains is conducted with the utmost care and respect. By holding those responsible accountable for their actions, it seeks to provide solace and justice to grieving families.