"We want answers" says family who used Hull Funeral Director at the centre of major investigation
Humberside Police say more than 1,000 phone calls have been made to special helpline
Last updated 13th Mar 2024
We've been talking to a Hull woman, who says she's worried that her family might be affected by the police investigation at Legacy Funeral Directors in East Yorkshire.
Jackie Groizard's family used the firm when her mother-in-law passed away a few years ago, but says it's "heartbreaking, waiting for a phone call".
She's told us she's worried that the ashes they received, might not have been that of her mother-in law.
"After the funeral, we kept asking for the ashes. We are asking and asking, it took three months to get them back"
"I don't know if they were my mother-in-law's ashes now"
"You can't replace that can you"
"We scattered them where she wanted them scattering, with her husband".
Humberside Police say they've received more than 1,000 phone calls to their dedicated helpline, from families in a similar position, worried about the deceased loved ones.
In an update, police said "this has been a truly horrific incident and they are understandably distraught and have many questions, and we are doing everything we can to give them the answers they desperately need"
Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin leading the investigation said "We can also confirm at this stage that between Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March we have recovered 35 deceased people who have been respectfully transported to the mortuary in Hull and formal identification procedures are now taking place."
"As part of the wider investigation, there is also a quantity of what we believe to be human ashes and we are in the process of carefully recovering and respectfully moving these to the mortuary"
"A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. They have since been released on police bail with conditions whilst our investigations continue."
"We continue to encourage anyone who has concerns over the services they’ve received from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors and has not yet spoken to us, to please call us."
Victim support also has a dedicated telephone line which is available to anyone who is experiencing distress or concern - this is available by dialling 0808 16 89 111.