Get you up to speed: Stillborn baby’s remains kept in envelope on funeral home’s floor for two years | News UK
Robert Bush, a funeral director, has pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial at Hull Crown Court after police discovered bodies in various states of decomposition at his premises, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. The remains of a stillborn baby were found left on the floor of the cold room for nearly two years, alongside other victims’ bodies.
An investigation is ongoing following the discovery of bodies in various states of decomposition at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, prompting police action in March 2024. Family members of victims have urged the government for tighter regulations in the funeral industry, citing a lack of progress in over 18 months since their initial appeal to Westminster.
Family members expressed outrage and distress during the sentencing of Robert Bush, who defrauded grieving families at his Hull-based funeral home, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. The scandal has prompted calls for tighter regulations in the funeral industry, with affected families urging government action to ensure best practices become law.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain why regulatory changes in the funeral industry have not yet been implemented despite families advocating for them for over 18 months.
Remains of stillborn baby left on funeral home’s floor for two years
The remains of a stillborn baby were left in an envelope on the cold room floor of a funeral home for almost two years.
Just one of the shocking stories emerging in Robert Bush’s sentencing as dozens of relatives paid tribute to their loved ones defiled at his Hull-based Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.
The ‘horror scene’ was discovered in March 2024 when he was on holiday.
When police were tipped off that something criminal may be going on at the business, they found bodies in varying states of decomposition, including one of a stillborn baby.
Jasmine Beverley was one of hundreds of victims of funeral director Robert Bush, who is being sentenced at Hull Crown Court.
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Gasps were heard in court from family members as details of the scene were described in court.
Her son, Sunny, was born stillborn at about 18 weeks and she believed he had been given a funeral and cremated.
But, instead, his tiny remains lay on the floor of the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors premises, kept in what looked to a police officer to resemble an evidence bag.
Chris Paxton KC, prosecuting, told the court: ‘In this bag was a white cotton pad.
‘It looked like a dressing-type pad used by hospitals.
‘[The officer] opened the pad and inside was a tiny item which he initially thought was a baby bird.
‘Although initially unsure, he suspected it was a human foetus.’
The baby had two wristbands around his waist identifying that he was born to Ms Beverley in May 2022.
As the scandal of how Bush had been operating his business came to light, police told her about her son.
(Picture: Humberside Police/PA Wire)
She said: ‘I discovered that he was still in there almost two years after we’d had the funeral and had him cremated, which wasn’t the case.
‘He was found inside the cold store on the floor in an envelope, and it was quite a distressing time to discover that what you thought had happened, hadn’t actually happened.’
Sunny’s loved ones were eventually told where his remains had been kept.
His mother said: ‘We’d always wondered where he’d been found, and we didn’t know whether or not it was with the rest of the people.
‘When we found out he was there with everybody, it sort of gave me a little peace that he wasn’t on his own.’
Ms Beverley said Bush appeared ‘lovely’ but ‘had a lot of people fooled’ by his respectful manner.
She said it has been more than 18 months since families affected by the scandal went to Westminster to call for government action to tighten regulations in the funeral industry.
She said: ‘I don’t understand why they’re dragging their heels on this, because most crematoriums and funeral directors have a best practice.
‘We just want to see that best practice put into play in law to make sure that is regulated.’