Van body stolen from funeral home dumped 100 miles away in Chicago alley
A cold-hearted crook stole a van from an Illinois funeral home – then dumped a corpse that was in the back more than 100 miles away in a Chicago alley, cops say.
The vehicle, which had the body of an unidentified man in the back, was stolen on Saturday afternoon from Collins & Stone Funeral Home in the town of Rockford, the police said.
The van arrived the next day in Chicago – but without the body inside, cops said in an updated alert.
Late Monday – almost a day after the van was discovered – the police said that “the body of the deceased man from the stolen van has been located” in south Chicago, two hours and 104 miles away from where he was snatched.
An anonymous 911 call alerted cops to the body, which was dumped in an alley behind several abandoned homes, CBS News Chicago said.
“Damn, they stole a body? said a neighbor who watched police search the alley.
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The body was found in an alley next to several abandoned houses a day after the stolen van was located.
The body was discovered while in a body bag in the van, CBS News Chicago said.
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It was discovered, suggesting the scammer had removed it from the body bag it was in, the local outlet said.
“Damn, they stole a body? a shocked neighbor told the outlet, saying she felt “sorry” for the loved ones of the dumped dead man.
It was not immediately clear how the van had been swept away, or whether the scammer knew a body would likely be in the back.
However, Rockford police have released footage of a suspect in the robbery, showing a man dressed in all black – including a hoodie – except for white gloves.
Rockford Police have released footage of this suspect.
The man is seen dressed in all black, including a hoodie, except for a few white gloves.
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He is wanted for stealing the van as well as abusing a corpse for moving the body without permission, CBS News Chicago said.
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He is wanted for stealing the van as well as abusing a corpse for moving the body without permission, the CBS station said.
The funeral home did not respond to requests for comment, the local station said.
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