Body in Stolen Funeral Home Van Found in Alley 90 Miles Away
Mugshot of Deon Howard. Photo courtesy of Rockford Police Department. Public domain.
A peculiar and disturbing case unfolded in Rockford, Illinois, as local authorities launched an investigation following the theft of a funeral home van that led to the temporary disappearance of a body that was inside the vehicle. The incident has not only shocked the local community, but also sparked broader concerns about security measures at funeral homes and the handling of human remains.
The Theft and Immediate Response
The events began on Jan. 21, 2023, when a Collins & Stone Funeral Home van was stolen. The van contained the body of Curtis Brown, a 47-year-old man who had recently passed away. The van was reported stolen around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the incident, and Rockford police were alerted and quickly initiated a search for both the vehicle and the missing body. Authorities worked tirelessly, knowing the situation would be sensitive and distressing for the deceased's family and the community at large.
Hours after the theft, the van was found in Chicago's South Side, approximately 90 miles from Rockford. However, the body of Curtis Brown was missing. This development added another layer of urgency to the investigation, as authorities feared that the body might have been desecrated or used for malicious purposes.
Body Found
The next day, Brown's body was recovered in an alley in Chicago. Authorities confirmed that Brown's remains were intact, but the mystery surrounding the theft deepened as investigators sought to understand the motives behind the crime.
Community Reaction
Collins & Stone Funeral Home's Director, Brady Collins, was already on probation for unprofessional conduct and failure to account for personal property before the incident occurred.
The theft has raised questions about security protocols at funeral homes, particularly concerning the transportation of bodies. Funeral homes across the region are reassessing their security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Arrest Made in the Case
Deon Howard, 23, was taken into custody in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in March 2023. According to Rockford officials, Howard was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and abuse of a corpse. He also had several other warrants for his arrest unrelated to the theft. It was not immediately clear if Howard knew there was a body in the van when he stole it or why the body was removed from the van in Chicago.
The unsettling events in Rockford have left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted serious vulnerabilities in the handling and security of human remains. The arrest of Deon Howard brings some resolution to the case, but the broader implications continue to reverberate. Funeral homes across the region are now under increased scrutiny, prompting a re-evaluation of security practices to prevent such a distressing incident from happening again. As the investigation wraps up, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining rigorous standards in industries that deal with the most sensitive aspects of human life and death.
References: Rockford man charged with stealing funeral home van with body of man inside arrested in Green Bay | Body found in Chicago days after van was stolen from Rockford funeral home | Director of Rockford funeral home where body was stolen is on probation
