“JUST GIVE ME MY MOTHER BACK”: Chicago Families Desperately Search for Loved Ones’ Remains as Funeral Home Investigation Uncovers Horrifying New Details! (VIDEO)

Instead of giving their loved ones a dignified final farewell, dozens of families in Chicago are living through a nightmare that seems to have no end. As they desperately search for the remains of deceased relatives, investigators continue to uncover increasingly disturbing details about a local funeral home—from bodies left to rats and maggots to allegations that urns were filled with construction debris instead of cremated remains.

As the shocking revelations continue to emerge, grieving families say they are reliving their pain while fearing for the fate of their loved ones’ remains. Although the state agency says the funeral home’s operator has now had her license revoked, records show the business had already accumulated a lengthy history of serious violations.

Amid the chaos, many relatives still have no idea where the bodies of their family members ended up.

“I just want my mother back. Do whatever you want, but please, just give me my mother back,” one grieving relative tearfully told NBC Chicago.

Families who entrusted South Chicago Chapel with the care of their loved ones say they are now suffering through a second tragedy after learning of the gruesome discoveries.

“They called and told me my brother wasn’t there. I called the funeral home, but no one answered. They even hung up on my daughters,” said Angela Young, who is still desperately searching for her brother.

Many residents say they had suspected for months that something was terribly wrong because a strong, foul odor constantly surrounded the building. Several sisters also told reporters that the contents of their mother’s urn looked nothing like cremated ashes and instead resembled ordinary construction rubble.

“The color and texture… It looked like someone had gone to a beach and scooped up sand and rocks,” the sisters said.

Their mother, Shaunis Shannon, 61, died of cancer in April.

“My mother bought this urn herself, certainly not to hold rocks. This isn’t my mom. My father was cremated, and I know what ashes look like. This is nothing but stones,” another relative said in disbelief.

More Than 50 Bodies Discovered: Corpses Left Outside Refrigeration, Infested With Maggots and Rats

The Chicago Police Department, medical examiners, and state inspectors quickly joined the investigation. Official records paint a horrifying picture. More than 50 bodies were discovered inside the facility, many of them stored outside refrigerated units in appalling conditions, leading to infestations of maggots and rats.

The funeral home’s operator, Johani Morgan, has now had her license suspended. Authorities say her husband had already come to the attention of law enforcement over similar incidents. Last year, the Illinois Comptroller’s Office shut down the couple’s crematory in Chicago Heights after investigators discovered bodies literally stacked on top of one another.

“We didn’t wait for lengthy procedures. We immediately shut the facility down and prohibited it from accepting any additional bodies,” Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said.

A key question, however, remains unanswered: How was South Chicago Chapel allowed to continue operating and receiving bodies even after that earlier scandal?

“This is an even more serious crime. Desecrating the dead and treating human remains in such an inhumane manner is a serious criminal offense. There is no doubt about that,” said Peter Chico, alderman of Chicago’s 10th Ward.

Outraged families are now demanding accountability and answers.

“If you already shut down one of their facilities for abusing human remains, how on earth did you allow them to continue operating somewhere else?” Angela Young asked.