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Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the official opening of Sangamon County’s new regional morgue were held Wednesday afternoon. The facility is located in the Sangamon South building on Capitol Ave., which used to be the State Journal-Register. The decision to renovate this building rather than construct a new facility saved Sanagamon County taxpayers more than $2 million. The $6 million facility brings autopsy, storage, investigative, and administrative functions under one roof.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. “We’ve worked for years with borrowed space and fragmented operations. This new facility changes everything – it gives us the space, tools, and layout to serve families with the dignity they deserve, while supporting counties across the region.”
Allmon emphasized that this new setup would improve coordination across teams and eliminate travel between sites, which would save time. Allmon also noted that one of the most important features of the new facility was the increased refrigeration space. Before, bodies would be stored at the hospital morgues, which could only hold 12 people. Now the refrigerated unit is capable of holding up to 50 individuals, and the freezer can hold an additional 12. Having the extra freezer space will aid in cases of needing to hold on to an individual for an extended period of time, allowing families more time to make proper arrangements.
In the case that a family needs financial assistance, the Sangamon County Coroner’s office has set up an indigent cremation fund and is selling t-shirts and challenge coins to raise funds. Allmon states that last year over 30 families, needed assistance. The fund was created a few months ago. If you would like to support this cause, you can message the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office Facebook Page.
This change also affects other departments that work closely with the coroner’s office, like the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Paula Crouch spoke at the ceremony and emphasized that the new morgue will facilitate efficient and effective death investigations.
The facility also includes a dedicated space for Saving Site and Gift of Hope, the region’s organ and tissue donor network, allowing Saving Site staff to operate on-site and better support families and recipients.
“We’re proud that this space will play a role in honoring the wishes of donors and bringing hope to families in need,” Allmon added. “It’s an important part of the mission we serve every day.”
The new facility is now fully operational and open to serve Sangamon County and about 17 other surrounding counties. It is expected that the new facility will not only save taxpayers money but will generate income from assisting other counties as well.