LONDON (AP) — Nearly three dozen bodies were removed from a funeral home in northern England, leading to the arrest of a man and woman on suspicion of fraud and preventing a lawful burial, as announced by Humberside Police on Sunday. The investigation spanned five days across three branches of Legacy Funeral Directors in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin revealed that 34 bodies were transferred to a mortuary in Hull for identification purposes. The 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, whose identities were not disclosed, were apprehended on suspicion of preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation, and fraud by abuse of position. Further details regarding the alleged crimes were not provided.
Since Friday, 350 individuals have reached out to the police following a request for families who had lost loved ones to come forward if they had any concerns. McLoughlin assured the public that his team was diligently addressing the surge in inquiries stemming from the incident, offering support to affected families through family liaison officers during this distressing period.
Legacy Funeral Directors, a family-run business established in 2010 with subsequent expansion, had a website emphasizing its ability to provide unique farewells with flexibility and care. The latest news update on the site, dated 2021, mentioned plans to open a fourth branch despite uncertainties due to COVID-19.
Efforts to reach out to the funeral home for comment by The Associated Press went unanswered, with an email remaining unreturned and the listed phone number unresponsive.
