Upcoming Events View All
2
Speaker: Social Media and Teen Mental Health

Tuesday, 04/02/2024 at 6:30 PM

5
6
From the Heart Rummage Sale

Saturday, 04/06/2024 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

6
St. Mark Book Fair

Saturday, 04/06/2024 at 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

7
Poet Laureates Alive: Smith, Harjo, and Limon with Noeli Lytton

Sunday, 04/07/2024 at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

7
Divine Mercy Sunday

Sunday, 04/07/2024 at 2:00 PM

9
Eco-Series Film for April: River Blue

Tuesday, 04/09/2024 at 6:30 PM

10
Where Art Serves the World

Wednesday, 04/10/2024 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

10
Made for More Speaker Series

Wednesday, 04/10/2024 at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

12
Quarter Auction

Friday, 04/12/2024 at 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Indiana opens investigation after aborted fetal remains found

INDIANAPOLIS — The story of 2,246 aborted fetal remains found at the Illinois home of late abortion doctor Ulrich Klopfer continues to unfold, with the new focal point being on neighboring Indiana, where Klopfer had once operated three abortion clinics.

From medical records found in close proximity to the remains, “we’ve been able to ascertain that (they) are pertaining to a period of time from 2000 to 2002,” said Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill at a news conference at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis Sept. 20.

Those records also identified that “all 2,246 fetal remains do come from the state of Indiana,” he added.

Klopfer, whom Hill referred to as “one of the most notorious abortionists in the history of Indiana,” formerly ran abortion centers in the northern Indiana cities of Fort Wayne, South Bend and Gary.

The buildings were abandoned after his medical license was suspended indefinitely in 2016 “as a result of a whole host of violations, including record-keeping,” Hill said.

The three buildings were searched by police Sept. 19. No additional fetal remains were discovered, but thousands of abandoned medical records were.

When a physician retires, “ordinarily there’s some process in place where those records are transferred to another physician or the Indiana Department of Health,” Hill explained. The abandoned records have now been secured by the attorney general’s office to ensure their accessibility and to protect patient privacy.

The records will be used as part of the investigation to determine “if there is any information that would suggest that any other licensed professionals have a hand in the transference of these fetal remains across the state lines,” said the attorney general.

“Also as a part of this investigation, we’re looking to see if those records shed light on anyone else who might be culpable for particular licensing problems, as well as criminal violations.”

When asked if this incident will change the licensing procedure of abortion centers in Indiana, Hill responded, “It certainly will be a consideration.”

“It’s somewhat troubling that we look back in history and find … 2,246 fetuses that were supposed to have been properly disposed (of) and they’re not,” he admitted. “So the procedural breakdown in terms of a regulatory process, that needs to be addressed at some point.”

Hill also noted the situation is “indicative of the correctness of states like Indiana having a law that provides for what should happen to a fetus that’s been aborted,” a reference to 2016 state legislation that was upheld by the Supreme Court in May of this year.

As for the 2,246 aborted fetuses, which Klopfer preserved with a biological-preserving chemical, Hill said they “are now safe” at the coroner’s office in Will County, Illinois, the county where Klopfer lived.

At a news conference in Joliet, Ill., Sept. 19, Will County officials indicated that arrangements would be made to transfer the remains to the custody of the Indiana attorney general for his office’s investigation.

Ultimately, the fetuses will be “treated in accordance with current Indiana law (requiring) burial and cremation and dignity and respect,” Hill added.

Related Articles Module

From the Archive Module

Indiana opens investigation after aborted fetal remains found 4468

Must Watch Videos

Now Playing

    View More Videos