2,246 Fetal Remains: Will County Sheriff Punts Case To Indiana

JOLIET, IL —Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley led a Thursday afternoon press conference to inform journalists that they do not envision the filing of any criminal charges in Will County in connection with last week's strange discovery of 2,246 medically preserved remains. The remains were stored inside the garage of long-time Indiana abortion doctor, Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, who died Sept. 3 of natural causes, according to Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil.

The remains were subsequently found inside the garage of Klopfer's home in Crete Township. Thursday's press conference drew about two dozen journalists to the Will County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Center building on Laraway Road.

Sheriff Kelley spoke first, followed by Glasgow and then Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil.

"Over 70 cardboard boxes of various sizes contained these remains," Sheriff Kelley informed the press Thursday. "The remains discovered were inside small sealed plastic bags, which contained formalin, a chemical used to preserve biological material. The boxes that contained the fetal remains were mixed among other boxes containing various personal property of Dr. Klopfer."

The team of Sheriff Kelley, Prosecutor Glasgow and Coroner O'Neil informed the press that Dr. Klopfer performed abortions at three separate Indiana clinics. The bags of fetal remains were all dated from a three-year time period: 2000, 2001 and 2002.

"We collectively ask that the media and the public not pass judgment on the Klopfer family who made this startling discovery and who have been cooperating fully throughout this entire press," Sheriff Kelley announced.

At one point, Glasgow was asked a series of questions from reporters about the gestational age of the fetal remains and how the plastic bags were labeled.

"Again, there are privileged aspects to this case that bar us from talking about," Glasgow responded at one point.

"But is the family name on the bag?" another reporter inquired.

"Again, there are privileged aspects that prevent us from talking about that," Glasgow answered.

"Are you considering all these fetal remains as humans and babies and not just medical waste?" another reporter asked Glasgow.

"Again, they're fetal remains, and I can't discuss the gestation of them. Again, after we make the transfer to Indiana, the Indiana Attorney General is going to ask the public if they want to inquire of their agency if they're aware of anything that happened during that time period that would affect them. Then, they would be able to contact the Attorney General."

At one point during the press conference, Glasgow was questioned on the possibility of filing criminal charges against other individuals who may have known about the disposal and storage of the fetal remains in the doctor's garage in unincorporated Crete Township, perhaps former employees from Indiana.

Glasgow stressed there was no shred of evidence to suggest the Indiana abortion doctor performed any abortions here in Will County. The belief is that the doctor transported the fetal remains from Indiana to Illinois and he kept them for unknown reasons, according to Sheriff Kelley.

"If Mr. Klopfer did something wrong, it's irrelevant at this point," Glasgow told reporters. "He was not operating anything here in Will County that we know of. Again, he's deceased."

The three Will County politicians told reporters that the fetal remains are currently in the custody of the coroner's office. Authorities have been in contact with the Indiana Attorney General's Office to take over jurisdiction of the case. The fetal remains will likely be transported back to Indiana.

"Why the remains were in his garage, no, we do not know," Sheriff Kelley explained.

Kelley said the Will County Sheriff's Office found "no evidence"of any medical procedures having been performed at the late doctor's property in Crete Township.

According to a press release distributed by Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer, "any concerned former patients of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer are asked to reach out to the Indiana Attorney General's Office, Chief Deputy Aaron Neganard ... at 812-584-5995 or by email at aneganard@atg.in.gov