September 24, 2019 // National

Indiana, Illinois launch investigation

Natalie Hoefer

The Criterion

INDIANAPOLIS — The story of 2,246 aborted fetal remains found at the Illinois home of late abortion doctor Ulrich Klopfer continues to unfold.

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 press 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 on Sept. 19. No additional fetal remains were discovered. But what was found were “thousands of abandoned medical records,” he said.

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 … that could lead to someone being investigated for child molestation, rape or incest.”

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

“The  purpose of having licensing procedures is, one, to identify if a particular clinic [is] appropriate for doing this kind of work, and also having follow-up to make sure that things that are supposed to be done have been done.”

“It’s somewhat troubling that we look back in history and find, here’s 2,246 fetuses that were supposed to have been properly disposed 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 that 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 2018 state legislation that was upheld by the Supreme Court.

He summarized the investigation moving forward as “trying to determine how this happened, who was involved and what, if anything, we can do about it, and what we can do going forward to prevent this from happening in the future.”

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.

According to Catholic News Service, Illinois is working with Hill on the investigation. The Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League also led a prayer vigil outside of the Will County Coroner’s Office in Joliet Sept. 19.

“It’s very important to bring these babies back home,” Hill said. “We want to make sure we have a safe and appropriate environment here in Indiana. We will take the time necessary to ensure that. It could be a matter of days; it could be longer. But the bottom line is we have secured the safety of those remains, and that is our top priority.”

Ultimately, the fetuses will be “treated in accordance with current  Indiana law [requiring] burial and cremation and dignity and respect.”

“We’re thankful the attorney general is treating these babies as babies, with the dignity and respect they deserved all along,” said Marc Tuttle, president of Right to Life of Indianapolis.

“And we’re thankful he’s taking this seriously, to get to the bottom of any laws or regulations that were violated. We hope this is a wake-up call for authorities to continue to monitor and regulate the abortion industry, because these types of things happen too often.”

Natalie Hoefer is a reporter for The Criterion, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

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FOR THOSE WHO HAD AN ABORTION at Klopfer’s Fort Wayne, South Bend or Gary facilities between 2000 and 2002, the Indiana Attorney General’s office has created two communication methods. Call 317-234-6663 or email [email protected].

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne- South Bend is offering the use of the Catholic Cemetery in Fort Wayne for the proper and dignified burial of the remains of these unborn children. Any woman or man suffering the wounds of abortion can also contact the Project Rachel ministry at 1-855-RACHEL HOPE (1-855-722-4354) or email [email protected].