In re Exhumation of Body of Bernardi

Acting on the petition of the State’s Attorney of Lake County alleging suspicious, obscure and mysterious circumstances as to the cause of death, the trial court ordered the exhumation of the body of Julia M. Bernardi for purposes of an autopsy. The husband of the deceased, Frank Bernardi, and her two children, Charles Bernardi and Henry Bernardi, have appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the court to issue the order.

During the early morning hours of December 14th, 1969, the Highland Park police were called to the residence of deceased and her husband. The dead body was found in the…