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(CNN) - The 2,246 fetal remains found in Dr. Ulrich Klopfer's Illinois garage this month are from abortions he performed between 2000 and 2002, when he operated clinics in Indiana, authorities said.
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Klopfer died on September 3 and his family was checking his belongings at his home in Will County, about 72 miles from Chicago, when they found the medically preserved remains, authorities said.
They were inside small sealed plastic bags containing a chemical used to preserve the biological material, Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. They were in boxes that were mixed with other storage boxes.
“I can tell you, the 31 years I've been doing this job, I've never seen anything like that, never. It's strange, one of those things only once in a lifetime, ”he said.
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Klopfer operated three abortion clinics in South Bend, Indiana, before his license was suspended in 2015. The county authorities estimated how long the remains had been preserved, but did not provide details on how they determined they were almost two decades ago.
"In the condition they are in, it is clear that they are older," said James Glasgow, a state attorney for Will County.
Klopfer did not follow Indiana law for the disposal of fetal remains and the presentation of proper documentation, Glasgow said. The remains will be transferred to the custody of the Indiana attorney general.
A lawyer representing the doctor's family called the Will County coroner's office on September 12 to inform them that the family had discovered what appeared to be the remains of the fetuses and requested help to remove them, the Sheriff's Office said. Will County
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Detectives arrived at the address and the coroner's office took the remains. The family is cooperating with the investigation.
There is no evidence that medical procedures have been performed on the doctor's property, according to the sheriff's office.
Anti-abortion groups have gathered at the site of their former clinics to demand identification and burial of the remains, said WNDU, a CNN affiliate.
A woman told WNDU that she was raped as a minor and had an abortion at one of the Klopfer clinics.
"For me, the closure would be to know if my baby was on his property so that I can have a proper burial," said Serena Dyksen.
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, called for an investigation.
"Like everyone else, the news from Illinois seems extremely disturbing to me, and I think it is important that it be thoroughly investigated," Buttigieg said Wednesday. “I also hope that she is not trapped in politics at a time when women need access to medical care. There is no doubt that what happened is disturbing. It is unacceptable. And it must be thoroughly examined. ”
Rebekah Riess of CNN contributed to this report.
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