FBI searches NW suburban crematorium, organ donation business

Federal authorities executed search warrants at two northwest suburban businesses—a crematorium and a company that facilitates organ donations—in what the FBI is calling an ongoing criminal investigation.

The FBI participated in the execution of court-authorized search warrants at 9329 Byron St. in Schiller Park, and 9501 Devon Ave. in Rosemont, spokeswoman Joan Hyde said Friday morning.

Cremation Services Inc. is located at the Schiller Park address, while Biological Resource Center of Illinois is located at the Rosemont address, according to state business records.

The search of the Schiller Park facility was completed late Thursday, and the search of the Rosemont facility concluded Tuesday, Hyde said.

Biological Resource Center of Illinois specializes in the recovery and placement of non-transplantable donated human organs and tissues for medical study, according to a cached version of its website. The company’s homepage states the site is “temporarily unavailable” as of Friday afternoon.

While Hyde confirmed the searches occurred as part of a criminal investigation, she said she could not provide further details about the nature of the investigation.

David Weisman, an attorney for Biological Resource Center of Illinois, said federal and State of Arizona investigators executed the search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into two of the company’s former business associates.

“We are aware that the two organizations have been under investigation for several months, and we are cooperating with authorities to better understand the issues and provide all requested information to assist in their investigation,” Weisman said in a statement on behalf of the company.

“Biological Resource Center of Illinois remains committed to serving both our donor families and clients by providing safe anatomical material that further medical research, training and education,” the statement continued. “We are committed to continuing to serve our donor-families and clients with the highest level of integrity and standard of care, as we have done over the last two decades.”

Representatives for Cremation Services could not be reached for comment about the search Friday.