An investigation into a former abortion doctor’s home found no additional fetal remains or evidence of medical procedures occurred in the home, according to a Will County Sheriff’s Office press conference Thursday.
A total of 2,246 preserved fetal remains were discovered Sept. 12 in Klopfer’s Illinois home, according to a press release from the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
“In the 31 years I’ve been doing this job, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sheriff Mike Kelley said.
The remains were dated 2000-2002, coinciding with the time the doctor, Ulrich Klopfer, operated three abortion clinics in Indiana, Kelley said at the press conference. The conference was streamed live on the Will County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page.
The remains were found when the family was going through his Will County, Illinois, property after Klopfer died Sept. 3.
There is no further criminal evidence other than what has already been discovered, James Glasgow, Will County state’s attorney, said at the conference. He said Klopfer violated Indiana laws on how remains are to be disposed of and on recordkeeping.
Plans are being made to transfer the remains to the Indiana attorney general’s possession, Glasgow said at the press conference. The Illinois investigation is over, but the Illinois agencies said they're going to help with the Indiana inquiry in any way possible.
Glasgow said HIPAA laws restrain Illinois government from giving information on the remains, unless a patient comes forward and waives that right in order to inquire into the individual case.
Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said many agencies such as cemeteries and Catholic organizations have reached out to his office offering free burials for the remains. However, the Indiana attorney general's office will have the final say in what happens to them.
