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Remains of 2 babies found above ceiling at Gary funeral home

Posted March 04, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

GARY, Ind. (AP) - Police are investigating after the remains of two babies were found stored in small boxes above ceiling tiles in a Gary funeral home.

Gary police and the Lake County coroner on Wednesday removed the bodies of a stillborn and a newborn from Smith, Bizzell and Warner Funeral Home. Investigators said the bodies appeared mummified or skeletonized. One had a tag indicating the baby was delivered March 3, 1996.

Lake County Coroner Merrilee Frey says funeral home owners contacted her after finding the remains. Sharon Vaughn is vice president of Concord Family Services Inc., the funeral home's parent company. She said previous owners left the bodies. The company bought the funeral home in 2005.

Gary police Sgt. Thomas Decanter says a criminal investigation has been opened. Autopsies are scheduled for Friday.

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