Major update in police investigaton of funeral home at centre of fraud probe

Police investigating a funeral home at the centre of a fraud probe have identified 163 families linked to ashes found there.

Humberside Police were unable to gain DNA profiles from the remains. But paperwork linked to the families was located at the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, East Yorks.

Detectives looking into the firm have now been in contact with the next of kin to offer to return the ashes to them. Humberside Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said “personal meetings” had been held with those relatives affected.

“Some families may want to receive the ashes, and others may not,” he said. “There is no right or wrong answer and the impact...will differ for each individual family.

“But it should not be underestimated and we will do all we can to support those throughout what is an incredibly difficult time. I want to thank the families and everyone in our communities for their understanding. We continue this complex investigation, and we will endeavour to provide answers and updates as and when we are able to.”

Jessie Stockdale died last November and her family attended what they thought was her cremation. After receiving a box of ashes, they were horrified to learn in March that her body had been discovered with 34 others at the Legacy premises.

Great-grandmother Jessie, who was 89, was laid to rest in April in what relatives called a funeral “fit for a queen”. Grandson Tristan Essex, 24, her full-time carer, told mourners: “Nobody ever expects to arrange a second funeral.

"What’s happened at Legacy is nothing short of traumatic. We have all been left having sleepless nights and nightmares. All my Nanna’s memories have been tainted. She wasn’t treated with respect or dignity."

Richard Shaw, of Woodmansey, used Legacy for his wife Rita’s cremation in October 2023. In December, he was given an urn containing what he was told were her ashes. In March, he learned that Mrs Shaw’s ashes had been found in a mortuary.

Mr Shaw said: “I have to believe these latest ashes are Rita’s or I’ll go crackers. I am very angry.” Mr McLoughlin has confirmed more than 2,000 calls were received by the investigation’s phone line and “of those a significant number were understandably concerned about the identification of the ashes of their loved ones”.

He also said that it was impossible to identify any of the human ashes using DNA profiles, a fact he said would be “devastating news for families and loved ones”. He added that more than 700 families had been updated regarding the latest scientific advice.

A man, 46, and a woman, 23, who were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position, remain on bail as police inquiries continue.