Latest news with #ChicagoHeights
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
Suburban woman receives wrong ashes from Chicago Heights crematory after waiting over 2 years
A suburban woman was forced to wait over two years to get her mother's remains from a south suburban crematory that has since been shut down by the State of Illinois for allegations of mishandled bodies. All that Wren Williams has left of her mother and father, Paul and Betty Williams of Highland Park are two plastic bags of ashes. Both were supposed to be cremated at Heights Crematory in Chicago Heights. "I sent my mom to Heights because that's where she had my dad cremated in 2011 when he passed away," she said. She wanted her mother to be in the same place as him. Betty Williams died in 2020, but Wren can't understand why her father's bag of ashes is over 1 pound lighter and smaller than her mother's, especially since he outweighed her by 60 pounds. Wren talked with the CBS News Chicago Investigators about the discrepancy after seeing our series of investigative reports exposing how Heights and its operator Clark Morgan are accused of mishandling bodies. Since February, Morgan has refused to talk to us about images of bodies stacked in plastic and body parts exposed in the dirty trailer on his property. Morgan is also accused of failing to process cremations in a timely manner. Bodies were found waiting to be cremated for months; one man found in the trailer had been dead an entire year. "I just felt that it was complete neglect," Williams said. Williams also had to wait for her mother's remains, despite continuously arguing with Morgan and his staff over the phone. "I would call them and they would say they'd call me back, and they would never call me back," she said. Ultimately, she had to wait two and a half years before she got her mother's ashes. She had to file an official complaint with the state to get the bag and an urn. She said Morgan never even got in trouble for making her wait so long, and now she wonders if her mom was just tossed in a trailer, too. "That's all I can see, and I'm trying to, trying to place my mother somewhere in that chaos," she said. For years, Morgan has gotten away with multiple slaps on the wrist by multiple state agencies for mounting violations, but his crematory just kept running. Williams says that's all indicative of a lack of oversight. "Somebody has to be held accountable," she said. It got even worse when a state investigator asked her to dump out and dig through her mother's ashes to look for a crucial piece of evidence: a metal identification tag. Each bag of cremated remains contains a metal tag with a log number on it, which is meant to match the person cremated. Betty Williams' tag did not match. "Not my mom's log number," Williams said. "They couldn't even find her in the log." And that led Williams to a painful but unavoidable conclusion. "I don't have my mom, no," she said. "[The ashes] belong to somebody else, another family." "It triggers an immense sense of emotional distress and trauma," said attorney Jonathan Treshansky. Treshansky is filing a lawsuit against Heights Crematory on behalf of Wren Williams and her family. "To this day, nobody knows where her mom's body is or where her remains are," he said. "Nobody." Meanwhile, Williams is left feeling helpless.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
Chicago Heights city employee extradited to Illinois on child pornography charges
A Chicago Heights city employee was in custody in Will County on Wednesday after being arrested on child pornography charges last month. Jasen Zurisk, 49, of Beecher, was booked into the Will County Adult Detention Facility on Tuesday, according to the Will County Sheriff's office. The sheriff's office said the investigation began on Jan. 22, when police in Oak Lawn contacted the Will County Sheriff's office about a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On March 4, a search warrant was executed at Zurisk's home, and multiple electronic devices were seized, police said. On April 29, an arrest warrant was issued for Zurisk. Zurisk was taken into custody at 4:25 p.m. in Merrillville, Indiana, the sheriff's office said. He was charged with six counts of possession and sale of child pornography. He was held at the Lake County Jail in Indiana until his extradition to Will County, Illinois, on Tuesday of this week. CBS News Chicago has confirmed Zurisk works as the maintenance director of south suburban Chicago Heights.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill aimed at settling Ford Heights debt to Chicago Heights pulled after House floor showdown
In a fiery debate after 6 p.m. on the statehouse floor as a legislative deadline loomed, a decade-long fight between Chicago Heights and Ford Heights came to a head last week as two Democratic lawmakers argued until proposed legislation was pulled from debate. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, who represents Chicago Heights, would have allowed the state comptroller to collect debts between local governments if the entities reached an agreement or filed a court order. It would have created a pathway to resolve close to $2 million in unpaid water bills Ford Heights owes Chicago Heights, its water supplier. Chicago Heights has attempted to collect the money for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights. But state Rep. Thaddeus Jones worried state intervention could further hike the water bills for the Ford Heights, which already has some of the highest water bills in the south suburbs, after Chicago Heights threatened to turn off the water in 2018. 'This bill does not allow me to represent a poor community that can barely pay their water bills,' said Jones, who is also mayor of Calumet City. While the legislation is dead, lawmakers agreed to work with municipal officials to settle the dispute over the bill. The proposed legislation would have allowed the state to deduct the debt from state payments to Ford Heights and forward the deducted funds to Chicago Heights, provided the municipalities came to an agreement or if Chicago Heights won a court order. Jones worried the court order measure would give Chicago Heights too much leverage over Ford Heights when the village already struggles with costly water bills. In October, Ford Heights attorney Mike Stuttley confirmed residents pay about $60 in monthly water bills, but could not confirm current bill prices Tuesday, or the amount owed to Chicago Heights. Jones said Tuesday another rate hike to settle the outstanding debt would likely have little effect. 'If they don't have any money, how are you going to force them to pay?' Jones said. Jones said there are other solutions, such as asking Cook County for help and changing the village system so Ford Heights residents pay Chicago Heights directly for water use. But he said DeLuca pushed the bill without providing enough time for the village's interim mayor, who was recently appointed, to sort out the village's financial situation and make a deal with Chicago Heights. Freddie Wilson was appointed interim mayor in October after serving less than a full term as village trustee, after former Mayor Charles Griffin was forced to resign after being convicted of embezzling from the village of about 1,800 people. Wilson won election to a full term April 1, despite other candidates raising concerns about his ties to Griffin. Those concerns included, as of March 21, failing to remove the Griffin from the village's bank account. Jones said the terms of an agreement made between Ford Heights and Chicago Heights during Griffin's administration has since been lost. Jones said he has known Wilson his whole life and trusts him to do what's best for the community. He said he planned to initiate a conversation with Wilson about Ford Heights' future. 'It's not easy, but he's going to have to make a clean break from the past,' Jones said. DeLuca said he knew Jones would oppose the bill, but said Chicago Heights was also 'an economically depressed community … in no position to be carrying that kind of debt.' Chicago Heights is home to about 26,000 people and is about 40% Black and 37% Hispanic or Latino, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. DeLuca said within 15 minutes after withdrawing the bill Thursday, he had Wilson on the phone, and said the mayor was amicable and open to an agreement to pay the debt. 'So that's part of the reason I did it, because I knew it would create some motivation on their part to get this resolved,' DeLuca said. 'He understands that, you know, this issue has to be resolved and come together and get you guys paid, I believe is the way it was said.' Wilson declined to comment on the debt issue Tuesday, but Chicago Heights has struggled to receive money owed by Ford Heights for more than a decade. In 2014, the city warned the village was in default, before suing them and being awarded a judgment of $1,929,840. DeLuca said he had not previously reached out to Ford Heights officials, but is in regular communication with Chicago Heights, as this was their initiative. Minutes after speaking with Wilson, DeLuca heard from Chicago Heights officials that they supported a resolution, DeLuca said. When asked what the next steps are, DeLuca said 'the next step has already happened,' but hopes for continued conversation. 'We're not going to delay,' said DeLuca. 'We're going to move right away and hopefully find a resolution.'
Chicago Tribune
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Bill aimed at settling Ford Heights debt to Chicago Heights pulled after House floor showdown
In a fiery debate after 6 p.m. on the statehouse floor as a legislative deadline loomed, a decade-long fight between Chicago Heights and Ford Heights came to a head last week as two Democratic lawmakers argued until proposed legislation was pulled from debate. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, who represents Chicago Heights, would have allowed the state comptroller to collect debts between local governments if the entities reached an agreement or filed a court order. It would have created a pathway to resolve close to $2 million in unpaid water bills Ford Heights owes Chicago Heights, its water supplier. Chicago Heights has attempted to collect the money for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights. But state Rep. Thaddeus Jones worried state intervention could further hike the water bills for the Ford Heights, which already has some of the highest water bills in the south suburbs, after Chicago Heights threatened to turn off the water in 2018. 'This bill does not allow me to represent a poor community that can barely pay their water bills,' said Jones, who is also mayor of Calumet City. While the legislation is dead, lawmakers agreed to work with municipal officials to settle the dispute over the bill. The proposed legislation would have allowed the state to deduct the debt from state payments to Ford Heights and forward the deducted funds to Chicago Heights, provided the municipalities came to an agreement or if Chicago Heights won a court order. Jones worried the court order measure would give Chicago Heights too much leverage over Ford Heights when the village already struggles with costly water bills. In October, Ford Heights attorney Mike Stuttley confirmed residents pay about $60 in monthly water bills, but could not confirm current bill prices Tuesday, or the amount owed to Chicago Heights. Jones said Tuesday another rate hike to settle the outstanding debt would likely have little effect. 'If they don't have any money, how are you going to force them to pay?' Jones said. Jones said there are other solutions, such as asking Cook County for help and changing the village system so Ford Heights residents pay Chicago Heights directly for water use. But he said DeLuca pushed the bill without providing enough time for the village's interim mayor, who was recently appointed, to sort out the village's financial situation and make a deal with Chicago Heights. Freddie Wilson was appointed interim mayor in October after serving less than a full term as village trustee, after former Mayor Charles Griffin was forced to resign after being convicted of embezzling from the village of about 1,800 people. Wilson won election to a full term April 1, despite other candidates raising concerns about his ties to Griffin. Those concerns included, as of March 21, failing to remove the Griffin from the village's bank account. Jones said the terms of an agreement made between Ford Heights and Chicago Heights during Griffin's administration has since been lost. Jones said he has known Wilson his whole life and trusts him to do what's best for the community. He said he planned to initiate a conversation with Wilson about Ford Heights' future. 'It's not easy, but he's going to have to make a clean break from the past,' Jones said. DeLuca said he knew Jones would oppose the bill, but said Chicago Heights was also 'an economically depressed community … in no position to be carrying that kind of debt.' Chicago Heights is home to about 26,000 people and is about 40% Black and 37% Hispanic or Latino, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. DeLuca said within 15 minutes after withdrawing the bill Thursday, he had Wilson on the phone, and said the mayor was amicable and open to an agreement to pay the debt. 'So that's part of the reason I did it, because I knew it would create some motivation on their part to get this resolved,' DeLuca said. 'He understands that, you know, this issue has to be resolved and come together and get you guys paid, I believe is the way it was said.' Wilson declined to comment on the debt issue Tuesday, but Chicago Heights has struggled to receive money owed by Ford Heights for more than a decade. In 2014, the city warned the village was in default, before suing them and being awarded a judgment of $1,929,840. DeLuca said he had not previously reached out to Ford Heights officials, but is in regular communication with Chicago Heights, as this was their initiative. Minutes after speaking with Wilson, DeLuca heard from Chicago Heights officials that they supported a resolution, DeLuca said. When asked what the next steps are, DeLuca said 'the next step has already happened,' but hopes for continued conversation. 'We're not going to delay,' said DeLuca. 'We're going to move right away and hopefully find a resolution.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ford Heights mayoral candidates say water bills, property taxes are top issues in April 1 election
As Ford Heights works to recover from its previous mayor's embezzlement conviction and resignation, five candidates are working to become the impoverished village's next elected leader. They include interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was appointed after Charles Griffin was forced to step down from his post in September, and Annie Coulter, who was mayor from 2017 to 2021, in between Griffin's two terms. Longtime Trustee Antonia McMichaels and former Trustees LaDell Jones and Scottie Hatten are also running. Jones and Coulter told the Daily Southtown they hope to address high water bills, property tax woes and lack of economic opportunities in the village of fewer than 2,000 people. Wilson declined to be interviewed about his campaign and goals for a full term, and Hatten and McMichaels could not be reached. Village attorney Mike Stuttley said when Wilson first took office, residents were paying about $60 per month for their water. The village owes about $2 million to Chicago Heights, which supplies Ford Heights' water. Chicago Heights has tried to collect the money owed for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights. Stuttley said at Wednesday's meeting a circuit court dismissed the most recent lawsuit, and the village settled a lawsuit brought by Ford Heights Elementary District 169 also related to water issues. Stuttley said the village has since been sued by two other entities. Wilson has blamed Coulter for failing to pay money owed to Chicago Heights during her administration. Coulter pushed back against the claim, saying Wednesday that when she entered office, she inherited debt leftover from Griffin's administration as well as a $30,000 settlement from an earlier Chicago Heights lawsuit. 'I was paying the water bill up until COVID hit,' Coulter said. Another $250,000 of Cook County COVID-19 relief funding went to Chicago Heights as well, she said. Coulter said Wilson 'doesn't know beans from soup.' She said absolving the village's debts would be a top priority, along with recruiting lobbyists to advocate for state support to the community. 'I have a lot to do, and at least this time I know more about where I'm going, what I've got to do,' Coulter said. Jones said his approach would be to 'clean up' Ford Heights, beautifying the village while also putting a stop to corrupt practices on the board. Both Coulter and Jones brought up Wilson and other board members' ties to Griffin, and at Wednesday's meeting a member of the public called out the board for failing to remove Griffin from the village bank account in the months following his conviction and resignation. The Village Board agreed to draft a resolution to remove Griffin from the account next month. Jones said he suspected incumbent board members have used their positions to take advantage of a village housing rehabilitation program that kicked off during Griffin's first term, which he would put an end to as mayor. The program aims to renovate vacant properties and offer them as affordable housing to residents. Jones said he would work to lower property taxes for homeowners by ensuring businesses are paying their fair share and working to make the community a more desirable place for people to move. He and Coulter both said they would prioritize bringing back a village police department, which was dissolved more than a decade ago. 'We must take care of our own,' Jones said. 'We must try to get our own police department. I know they say we can't afford to, but I'm saying we can't afford not to.' Cook County patrols the community, which Jones and Coulter said suffers from high crime rates that prevent economic development. In addition to a crowded mayoral race, six candidates are seeking three 4-year trustee positions. Tyrese Andrews is seeking reelection, and new candidates are James E. Morgan, Tiffany Larue, Lorenzo Nichols, Stacey Perry and Tracy C. McDowell. Jones said members of his slate include Larue, Morgan and Nichols. Germaine Hooks is running unopposed for a 2-year stint as trustee, and Clerk Nyree Ford is seeking reelection without a challenger. Four candidates are seeking two 4-year park board seats: James Coleman, Leland Hooks, Anthony Cunnigan and Joseph J. Tooks. Tooks is part of Jones' slate. Kimberly Griffin and Patrice Eason are facing off for the 6-year term. ostevens@
