Cook County posts photos of unidentified remains

CHICAGO (AP) — The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has started posting online photographs of unidentified dead people.

In a news release, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's office says the hope is that relatives of people who have disappeared will spot their loved ones on the expanded website.

The website includes photographs of the faces of unidentified deceased people and, in some cases, photographs of tattoos. In many cases, though, there are only detailed descriptions that include what clothes and jewelry the people were wearing when their bodies were found.

Before seeing a photograph visitors to the website are advised of the "potentially graphic nature of the images you are linking to."

Various medical examiner's offices and coroner's offices around the country have similar websites that include photographs.

The site is http://www.cookcountyil.gov/MedicalExaminer .