More families are filing lawsuits and complaints against a suburban crematory, claiming that the remains of their loved ones were handled improperly.
In their complaints, some families claimed that months after the deaths of their loved ones, they are still awaiting the remains.
Daniel Spanley stated that after his mother, Lisa, passed away on October 27 of last year, he entered into an agreement with Crown Cremation in Lake County, Indiana.
He stated that he is still awaiting his mother’s remains several months later.
“My kids ask me all the time, when are we getting grandma back?” Spanley stated. “There were phone calls…voice mails…then no response whatsoever.”
Daniel is one of over two dozen families who are currently bringing a variety of claims against Crown Cremation and its subcontractor, Heights Crematory, in Chicago Heights.
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There are instances where the cremated person’s remains have not been given to surviving family members. Instances of inappropriate storage, including one in which a body had to be returned without being cremated after 40 days, according to lawyer Gabriel Adam Hawkins.
The Heights Crematory’s business license has been suspended by the Illinois Comptroller’s Office, which is also holding hearings to decide whether to permanently close the facility.
Attorney Karen Enright stated, “Our sources have confirmed that the bodies were comingled with other bodies and other remains.”
To find out how many more lives have been affected, attorneys said they are collaborating with investigators in Illinois and Indiana.
According to Spanley, he hopes the lawsuits result in stricter laws governing the cremation sector.
“Hopefully these guys are held accountable and people still waiting get closure,” Spanley stated.
