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A widower has revealed how his late wife’s ashes were found in a mortuary and not in her urn, amid a police investigation into a funeral home where detectives removed 35 bodies.
Richard Shaw paid for the services of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors for the cremation of his wife Rita in October last year.
Directors at the funeral home, based in Hull, East Yorkshire, are being investigated over “concerns over the care of the deceased”, and a quantity of ashes and 35 bodies have been removed.
Shaw, from Woodmansey, near Hull, said a detective called him on Friday to tell him his wife’s ashes had been found in the morgue at Hull Royal Infirmary, even though he thought he had already collected them.
“If the boot was on the other foot, if it were me (whose ashes were found), she would go crazy,” he told the newspaper. bbc.
Richard Shaw (pictured) tells how his late wife’s ashes were found in a mortuary and not in her urn.
Police outside the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors branch on Hessle Road in Hull
Legacy Independent Funeral Directors branch in Hull, North East England
Shaw said he still doesn’t know whose ashes are inside the urn he was given, adding that they were given to him 60 days after his wife’s funeral.
The widower said he plans to scatter the stranger’s ashes in his garden if they are not identified.
Police have told Shaw they cannot yet deliver his late wife’s ashes to him, and the widower said neighbors are taking care of him. “I don’t have anyone else,” he said.
Humberside Police said in a statement: “We understand how distressing this case is for those involved, we will look to return the recovered ashes as soon as we can.”
“We encourage anyone who feels they need to speak to someone and express their concerns to call the Victim Support helpline on 0808 281 1136.”
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful and dignified burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of office. Both remain free on bail.
Meanwhile, Humberside Police have also told other devastated mourners that relatives they believed were cremated have been identified among the bodies removed.
Police outside the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors branch on Hessle Road in Hull
A police officer parked with a major incident unit outside a branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on Hessle Road in Hull
Last month, candles were lit and prayers were said for the families of the 35 people whose bodies were recovered from the scandal-hit funeral home.
An emotional vigil was held at St Martin’s Church in Hull, just opposite the boarded-up branch of Legacy Family Funerals on Anlaby Road.
Many of the families were united in grief as St Martin’s opened its doors to pray for their loved ones and light candles in their memory.
Legacy’s main branch and head office are at the near-derelict end of Hessle Road, Hull, next to a derelict house dotted with graffiti and opposite a row of takeaways and boarded-up buildings.
All local takeaway staff were aware of the investigation but had no idea what was behind it.
MailOnline has contacted Legacy Independent Funeral Directors for comment.