In a shocking turn of events, almost three dozen bodies were discovered and subsequently removed from a funeral home in northern England. Humberside Police revealed this unsettling development on Sunday, and a man and a woman were subsequently arrested on charges of suspicion of fraud and preventing a lawful burial.
The investigation unfolded over five days, focusing on three branches of Legacy Funeral Directors in Hull and East Yorkshire. Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin provided details, disclosing that the 34 bodies had been transported to a mortuary in Hull for identification purposes.
The 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, whose identities remain undisclosed by authorities, were arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation, and fraud by abuse of position.
The nature of the suspected crimes has not been divulged, leaving the public awaiting further details. This shocking incident in England has eerie echoes of similar cases in the United States, where funeral home operators faced legal consequences after numerous bodies and cremated remains were discovered on their properties.
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Notably, in the U.S., there have been sensational cases involving funeral home operators facing arrest after dozens of bodies and cremated remains were found on their premises. Last year, a funeral home in Colorado became the center of a disturbing discovery, with nearly 200 decaying bodies piled up in a bug and maggot-infested environment.
The owners faced numerous charges, including abuse of a corpse, as prosecutors revealed that some relatives had received fake ashes instead of the actual cremated remains of their loved ones.
The recent incident in northern England has stirred public concern, prompting 350 people to contact Humberside police since Friday. Authorities had urged families who lost loved ones to reach out if they harbored any concerns.
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Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin emphasized that his staff and officers are working tirelessly to address the unprecedented inquiries generated by this incident. Family liaison officers are providing support to affected families during this distressing time.
Legacy Funeral Directors, the funeral home in question, described itself as a family-run business established in 2010, which had expanded over the years. The last news update on its website from 2021 acknowledged the uncertainties brought by COVID-19 but expressed a commitment to continuing services and even planning to open a fourth branch.
As an independent funeral director, the business claimed to offer unique farewells for loved ones, emphasizing flexibility and less constraint than competitors. However, attempts by the Associated Press to seek comment from the funeral home went unanswered, and a phone call to the listed business number went unattended.
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The shocking discovery of numerous bodies at Legacy Funeral Directors has raised questions about the practices and operations within the funeral home industry.
The ongoing investigation will hopefully shed light on the circumstances surrounding this disturbing incident and provide answers for the families affected by these unsettling revelations.
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