Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill announced Thursday that he has overseen the transportation of 2,246 aborted fetuses back to Indiana after they were discovered in September at the Illinois home of the late Dr. Ulrich Klopfer. An investigation has revealed that the fetuses were aborted by Dr. Klopfer at Indiana clinics located in Fort Wayne, Gary and South Bend.
The St. Joseph County Coroner’s Office assisted the Office of the Indiana Attorney General in bringing the remains back to Indiana, Hill said at a South Bend press conference.
Hill
“This investigation has been a team effort involving multiple offices and agencies since the day it began, and it remains a team effort as we proceed forward,” Hill said. “Our priority throughout this process is to give proper respect to the remains of these unborn children and to the women and families associated with them. We are still working through the decision-making process in regard to ultimate disposition of these remains, and we will continue to proceed with appropriate care and consideration at each step of the way. For now, we can simply let everyone know that these remains are back home in Indiana.”
For purposes of maintaining decorum, respect and safety, authorities are not currently publicizing the whereabouts of the preserved fetuses.
“We have taken custody of the remains,” said St. Joseph County Coroner Michael McGann. “We will treat them with due respect and will maintain their integrity until such time as we are directed with respect to their proper disposition. We appreciate the coordinated effort of our Attorney General’s office, his staff and the Will County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office, who all worked so diligently to bring these remains back to Indiana.”
Besides ensuring that the remains receive appropriate disposition under Indiana law, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General is also working to preserve and protect thousands of medical records found both at Dr. Klopfer’s Illinois residence and at his abandoned Indiana abortion clinics.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski said at today’s press conference that she has been deeply troubled by the discovery of the fetal remains in a residential garage.
“This is one of the most heinous, disgusting events I have ever seen,” she said. “I … want to make sure it never happens again, and I’m very grateful to the Attorney General and the St. Joe team that has worked on this issue.”
Six state legislators attended the press conference: Rep. Dave Abbott, Rep. Ron Bacon, Rep. Dale DeVon, Rep. Doug Miller, Sen. Blake Doriot and Sen. Linda Rogers.
“As one of the representatives from the General Assembly who asked for this investigation,” Rep. Bacon said, “I am very pleased with the Attorney General for going ahead and doing that so we could find out what happened with the fetal remains of those aborted babies. I am pleased they are back here in Indiana, and we are able to move forward.”
The Office of the Attorney General has set up a phone number and email address for the specific use of anyone with possible connections to the fetal remains who may wish to inquire. The email address is questions@atg.in.gov, and the phone number is (317) 234-6663.