Police recover 35 bodies and ‘a quantity of human ashes’ during funeral home probe – as more than 1,000 people call hotline with concerns

The bodies of 35 people and the presumed ashes of a number of others have been found by police who are investigating a funeral home over ‘concerns for the care of the deceased’.

Over 1,000 people have called a dedicated hotline with concerns about Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull as officers from Humberside Police moved bodies from the firm’s branches to a mortuary.

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful funeral and fraud have been released on bail, the force said.

Assistant Chief Constable Thom Mcloughlin told a press conference on Tuesday: ‘We have now located a total of 35 deceased who have now been respectfully transported to Hull Mortuary and formal identification procedures are now taking place.

“In addition, we have also found a quantity of what we suspect are human ashes.

‘We are in the process of carefully recovering all those ashes and bringing them to the mortuary.’

He added: ‘So far we are pursuing extensive lines of inquiry and have special search and forensic teams carrying out thorough searches of various business premises linked to the suspects detained at the weekend.

‘I can confirm that a man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

‘They have since been released on police bail with conditions while our investigation continues.

“I recognize that this is an unsettling time for all those affected and I have no doubt that it will have a significant impact across all of our communities and beyond.”

A large number of police have been seen at the scene, including forensic officers dressed in white protective suits and the Maritime Protection Unit.

Officers cordoned off three Legacy Independent Funeral Directors sites after the force received a report on Wednesday about concerns about ‘storage and management processes relating to the care of the deceased’.

Barricades were in place Saturday evening at three Legacy Independent Funeral Directors locations following the initial report to police on Wednesday.

Officers were seen outside two of the firm’s branches in Anlaby Road and Hessle Road, both in Hull, at around 3am on Thursday, according to Hull Live.

The Beverley ward, the smallest, is on the corner of a residential road on the edge of town.

The woman who owns the building and lives next door said: ‘They don’t come here very often.

‘I haven’t seen them in ages. They used my site to try to generate extra business, but it hasn’t really happened.

‘It is very strange what has happened. It is not every day that the police keep an eye on the building.

‘I know a few people who have had funerals there and they were really happy.’

Legacy’s head office and head office is located at the almost derelict end of Hessle Road, Hull, next to a graffiti-splattered derelict house that faces a row of takeaways and boarded-up buildings.

Local takeaway workers were all aware of the investigation but had no idea what was behind it.

A local trader said: ‘We think the police have been there since Wednesday night. Lights were seen in the back yard.

‘There are all sorts of rumors on Facebook.

‘But all we’ve been told by the police is that they’re there because of ‘something the owner did’ and we don’t know anything for sure.

‘It’s been like an episode of True Crime.’

The building is in a row of shops next to a brightly painted solarium.

The front room is decorated as a chapel with a cross on a desk that serves as an altar and a high-backed kitchen chair under the desk.

A man who claimed to know the owner said: ‘He’s from London but he lives in Anlaby in Hull now. He is quite handsome.

‘He loves his motorbikes a bit too much and if you like bikes you can have a decent conversation with him. He has a couple of bikes in the back of the funeral parlor, which I always thought was a little odd.

‘He seems nice enough, but I never really got on with him. He is always on your back. I used to call him Mr Nosey.

“I thought for years that the bodies were not treated properly, but I don’t know any details.”

Emma Hardy, Labor MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, revealed her shock after learning of the police investigation and said her ‘heart goes out to all the concerned family members’.

She reminded the public ‘it is important’ not to speculate on the nature of the investigation, adding ‘the current focus is the investigation’.

The Labor MP said on Facebook last Friday: ‘I am extremely shocked to have been made aware that there is an investigation into an undertaker in my constituency.

‘My heart goes out to all the concerned family members and loved ones. I can only imagine the distress and devastation you will feel.

‘I have already spoken to the police and the chief executive of Hull City Council. I understand that the current focus is on a police investigation and believe it is important not to speculate at this stage or do anything that could jeopardize its findings.

‘If you think you may have been affected, it is important that you contact the police on 0800 051 4674 or if you are calling from abroad, call 0207 126 7619, as they will be able to offer help and support in the first instance.

‘If you are affected, please be assured that I am always here to support you and will do everything I can to help at this incredibly difficult time. I can be contacted at emma.hardy.mp@parliament.uk and I will get back to you.’