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Additional Fetal Remains Found In The Trunk Of One Of A Deceased Indiana Doctor's Vehicles

Courtesy of WNDU-TV

Additional fetal remains were found Wednesday in a vehicle owned by the late Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, who performed abortions in Gary, South Bend and Fort Wayne. Illinois authorities found more than 2,000 medically preserved remains in September.

The Indiana Attorney General’s Office said one box and five plastic bags contained fetal remains in the trunk of a Mercedes Benz. The vehicle was one of eight, which had been stored at a business property for more than six years.

The office said it believed the remains were linked to abortions performed in Indiana.

Klopfer practiced – and performed abortions – at clinics in Indiana for years. His license was suspended in 2016 in part because he failed to report in a timely manner abortions he performed on two girls under the age of 14.

An investigation by the attorney general’s office and Illinois authorities determined the the initial remains were from Indiana, from between 2000 to 2002. On Oct. 2, those remains were returned to the state.

The attorney general’s office said it expects to add the newly discovered remains to its investigation. It seeks to determine if other people were involved in transporting the fetal remains to Illinois – and if that violated any medical licensing standards or state laws.

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.

Jennifer Weingart is a reporter and All Things Considered host. She holds a degree in broadcasting and journalism from Central Michigan University, prior work experience from WCMU in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. and WDET in Detroit. She likes stories that involve passionate people doing awesome things. Her work is heard on WVPE, the Michigan Public Radio Network, Indiana's regional journalism cooperative and a few times on NPR.