Investigation continues after decomposing bodies found at Chicago funeral home | LIVE Updates

The City of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against the owners of South Chicago Chapel, seeking fines of $11,500 per day and alleging 23 building code violations at the funeral home following an August inspection.

According to the complaint, the city is asking a judge to impose daily penalties until the alleged violations are corrected. The lawsuit cites a range of issues, including work allegedly performed without permits, fire-safety concerns, structural problems, and failure to keep the property "clean, sanitary, and safe."

For some families, the lawsuit does not go far enough.

The filing follows the discovery of more than 50 decomposing bodies at the funeral home last month. The complaint alleges: "This is an unlicensed funeral home that has been receiving deceased human cadavers for processing. It is apparent that none of these bodies were being 'processed.'"

The lawsuit further alleges that "The stench was overwhelming and could be smelled outside the building" and describes the conditions as an "immensely unsanitary situation."

A vigil got underway Sunday for families who are demanding answers from South Chicago Chapel about their loved ones.

Many of these families are still emotional and frustrated as they seek information about the whereabouts of their relatives' remains.

The funeral home has been under investigation since the remains of 56 people were found improperly stored on Aug. 6.

"Just give us our family back... Not just my mom, their son, her son, his son, their wife, their husband, their family member... a child... a brother, sister everyone here is loved," said Franquella Campbell.

Families rallied together, frustrated with the investigation, and demanded more transparency and the return of their relatives' remains. There was a prayer and an emotional balloon release.

"I'm just wondering what happened to my son. I don't know where he's at... I want his ashes," said Nora Nuckles.

Families also claim they have seen the owners of the South Chicago Chapel return to the building despite it being shut down.

ABC7 reached out state investigators and the office of Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza but did not immediately hear back.

In the meantime, some of these families say they have what they were told were the ashes of their loved ones, but they are skeptical about them actually being their family members' remains.

"This is time for us to stand up and fight, because this is our loved ones. I have no idea if this is my son that's in these ashes," said Marketa Kristofek.

"It took a while to get the remains, and once we got them, it appeared to be a bag of dirt with rocks in it. It did not look like any cremated remains I've seen before," said Cecelia Palmer.

The investigation continues as the Cook County medical examiner has started releasing a list of names of the human remains that were improperly stored at the funeral home.

Community leaders and grieving families are demanding a federal investigation into the operators of South Chicago Chapel.

Dozens of decomposing bodies and boxes of cremated remains were discovered improperly stored at the funeral home earlier this month.

Dozens of decomposing bodies and boxes of cremated remains were discovered improperly stored at the funeral home earlier this month.

On Friday morning, one widow said she is still trying to find the remains of her husband, Lewis Walker.

There are now calls for a federal investigation into the South Chicago Chapel where dozens of decomposing bodies were found improperly stored inside.

The families of the loved ones entrusted to that funeral home are calling for a federal investigation into the actions of the funeral director and her husband.

They also want a broader review of the oversight systems intended to protect families, consumers and the public trust.

The impacted families plan on making a formal request to the agent in charge at the bureau's Chicago field office for the FBI to get involved.

Meanwhile, the ABC7 I-Team has learned there was a call for service at that funeral home almost a full year before the discovery earlier this month.