Services disrupted for late reputed mob hitman
The late reputed mob hitman Frank “The German” Schweihs was known for making people disappear.
But this week, it was Schweihs’ body that was not to be found at his funeral service, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
(AP)
Schweihs’ family and friends were ready to attend the service, when authorities ordered funeral home officials to immediately transport Schweihs’ remains to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, leaving the family distraught.
“It wasn’t a pleasant situation for them, that’s for sure,” said one of Schweihs’ attorneys, Paul Brayman.
The move sparked speculation that federal investigators wanted to get some DNA off Schweihs’ remains before the hitman himself took a dirt nap.
But the truth was far more pedestrian.
The medical examiner’s office was not properly notified when Schweihs died Wednesday at Thorek Hospital under guard. By law, anyone who dies in custody has to undergo an examination at the medical examiner’s office, a source there said. A medical examiner’s investigator learned Schweihs had died and called the funeral home Monday, demanding the remains.
For the record, Schweihs, 77, died of complications from cancer. His body was released to the funeral home today.
Schweihs’ family was already upset because they were not at his side in the hospital when he died. Authorities at the U.S. Marshals Service were trying to arrange for a visit, but Schweihs’ condition deteriorated so quickly he died before that could happen, sources said.