CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
For the first time, the Cook County medical examiner's office has posted photos of unclaimed bodies on their website in an effort to help identify them.
The program is generating some controversy because of the graphic images, but for the sake of people missing loved ones, this is a decision where the medical examiner believes the ends justify the means.
The site contains information about when the bodies were found and where, along with as much identifying information as possible—including, in some cases--photos of the victim's face.
"We're hoping that that photo can trigger somebody's memory, that you know, that person grew up down the street from me, or that person used to live nearby and I know where their mom is," Cook County Medical Examiner Dr. Steve Cina says.
If there are other identifying images, as in tattoos, those are also posted. The images are also linked to NAMUS, a national unidentified persons database. That connection recently resulted in a Michigan family identifying their missing daughter.
Cina knows the images are graphic, but he makes no apologies. He did take some safeguards, though, making sure a warning page pops up before people see the pictures.
Read more:
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/2...otos-of-unclaimed-bodies-online#ixzz2MsxEwFgs
