An investigation in northern England has exposed alarming issues at three Legacy Funeral Homes, located in Hull and East Yorkshire, where police discovered the remains of nearly three dozen people.
Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin of the Humberside Police reported receiving a concern on March 6, 2024, regarding the handling and storage of the deceased at Legacy.
Police descended upon Legacy’s three locations early Thursday morning, March 7, around 3 a.m., and engaged in the task of identifying remains and establishing a helpline for individuals concerned about the whereabouts of their loved ones’ bodies.
After the police intervention, 34 bodies that were retrieved were transported to a mortuary in Hull.
The investigation has led to the arrest of two people—a 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman—on charges of fraud and preventing lawful burials.
McLoughlin has stressed the extensive efforts undertaken by his team to handle a surge of inquiries from concerned families. In the wake of these events, the community has responded with an outpouring of concern, resulting in over 350 people contacting police for information about their loved ones.
Legacy Funeral Directors, self-described as a family-run business since its 2010 inception, has promoted its ability to offer customized and flexible funeral services. Despite these claims, the allegations have significantly tarnished the funeral home’s reputation.
The Beverley Legacy location, the smallest, is situated at the intersection of a suburban road on the town’s fringe. The building owner, who lives next door, remarked, “This location seldom sees visitors. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them. They attempted to use my property to attract additional clientele but to no avail.”
“This occurrence is indeed peculiar. Having the police surveil the premises is not an everyday event,” she added. “I’m acquainted with a few individuals who organized funerals here, and they were quite satisfied.”
Legacy’s primary establishment and corporate headquarters are located on the nearly abandoned stretch of Hessle Road in Hull, beside a graffiti-covered house opposite a series of fast-food outlets and shuttered buildings.
Employees at a nearby fast-food outlet were conscious of the ongoing investigation yet clueless about its cause.
This incident mirrors troubling patterns observed in the United States, where funeral home operators have faced legal repercussions for mishandling bodies and remains.
A Colorado case uncovered nearly 200 decaying bodies in unsanitary conditions, leading to numerous charges against the owners, including abuse of a corpse. These cases highlight widespread concerns over negligence and ethical violations in the funeral services industry.
McLoughlin has called for public patience and refrained from speculation, recognizing the profound emotional toll on the families involved. The police have established a dedicated hotline to field concerns from the public, ensuring that those affected have access to support through this distressing period.