>> Jason: A LOCAL MOM COMES
FORWARD WITH A HORROR STORY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER
DAUGHTER’S BODY INSIDE THE
MORGUE.
>> WE COULDN’T VIEW HER AND SAY
OUR GOOD-BYES OR ANYTHING, AND
IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING.
>> Jason: THE "DEFENDERS" FOLLOW
THE MONEY.
SO WHO IS GETTING PAID $31
MILLION TO RUN THE WAYNE COUNTY
MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE?
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW U OF M’S
MICHIGAN MEDICINE IS IN CHARGE
OF THE WAYNE COUNTY MORGUE.
BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS, THEY
CAME TO AN AGREEMENT YEARS AGO.
>> Karen: I’M SHARING WITH YOU
THE $31 MILLION CONTRACT AND ASK
THE QUESTION, WHY ISN’T MORE
BEING DONE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
DEAD?
AS ANOTHER MOTHER COMES FORWARD
TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER CHILD INSIDE THE WAYNE
COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S
OFFICE.
>> I COULDN’T SAY GOOD-BYE TO
HER.
HER KIDS COULDN’T SAY GOOD-BYE
TO HER.
>> Karen: IT’S STILL HARD FOR
KATHY SOMERS WHO TALK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO HER DAUGHTER INSIDE
THE WAYNE COUNTY MORGUE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THEY’RE RUNNING
THIS PLACE?
>> NOT WELL.
>> Karen: SHE WAS A 37-YEAR-OLD
MOTHER OF TWO AND BATTLED A DRUG
ADDICTION.
HER BODY WAS BROUGHT TO THE
WAYNE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S
OFFICE.
BY THE TIME HER BODY WAS
DELIVERED TO THE FUNERAL HOME 11
DAYS LATER, SHE SAID THE FUNERAL
HOME DIRECTOR TOLD HER THERE WAS
NO POSSIBILITY SHE COULD HAVE AN
OPEN CASKET FUNERAL.
>> HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I SAID WHY IS THAT?
AND HE SAID BECAUSE SHE HAD
MAGGOTS IN HER MOUTH.
MY YOUNGEST SISTER CALLED AND
ASKED WHY THEY DIDN’T HAVE HER
IN THE FREEZER.
>> Karen: DID YOU GET ANY
ANSWERS?
>> NO.
>> Karen: THE LOCAL 4
"DEFENDERS" DID SOME DIGGING ON
HOW THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S
OFFICE IS RUN AND OBTAINED THIS
CONTRACT SHOWING WAYNE COUNTY IS
PAYING $31 MILLION TO THE
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN OR UMHS TO PROVIDE
PROFESSIONAL AND OPERATIONAL
SERVICES FOR FIVE YEARS TO RUN
THE MORGUE.
>> I AM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.
I’M AN EMPLOYEE OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
>> Karen: WE TOLD YOU HOW KARL
SCHMIDT DEFENDS HOW THE MORGUE
IS OPERATED.
>> I THINK OVERALL, IT’S WORKING
VERY WELL.
>> Karen: THE DEPARTMENT OF
PATHOLOGY HELPED AND BECAUSE OF
THEIR PARTNERSHIP, IT OPENS NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH AND
DISCOVERY.
AS THE "DEFENDERS" HAVE
REPORTED, NOT EVERYONE AGREES
WITH THE SO-CALLED SUCCESS.
>> I’M DISAPPOINTED TODAY THAT
THE PEOPLE ULTIMATELY
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THIS
OFFICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN DON’T HAVE SOMEBODY
HERE.
>> Karen: THE "DEFENDERS" WENT
TO UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ASKING
FOR AN INTERVIEW.
NO ONE WAS WILLING TO TALK ON
CAMERA ABOUT THE CASES WE
UNCOVERED ON THOSE SITTING IN
THE MORGUE FOR MONTHS.
BUT THE MORGUE TOLD FAMILIES
THEY DIDN’T HAVE THEIR BODIES
AND THOSE LEFT TO DECOMPOSE.
>> I WISH I COULD HAVE SAID
GOOD-BYE TO HER.
>> Karen: MICHIGAN MEDICINE SENT A STATEMENT, READING IN PART:
>> Karen: THE FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT
ENDS NEXT SEPTEMBER.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE
HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY OFFICIAL
REQUEST FOR HIRING AND CHANGES.
ONCE THEY GET A RECOMMENDATION,
THEY’LL MOVE TO REVIEW THE
REQUEST.
BUT MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND
WAYNE COUNTY DOES RETAIN
OVERSIGHT OF THE WAYNE COUNTY
MORGUE.