Chicago to Post Photos of Mystery Stiffs Online

If your loved one died in a grisly way, finding a grisly photo of them online might not be your favorite way of finding out, but the Cook County medical examiner's office is betting it's better than nothing. The county, which includes Chicago, has begun posting photos of unclaimed bodies online, FOX 32 reports. All potentially identifying photos—including, for example, shots of tattoos—will be posted.

Posting such potentially graphic images has generated some controversy, but the medical examiner feels it's worth it. "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," the examiner said. Any discomfort "that people may feel looking at some of the images, it's worth it to reunite some families." (More Cook County stories.)