Summary
Crisis staff discovered a disturbing scene at a funeral home in Hull, where undertaker Robert Bush had hoarded 35 bodies and a large amount of ashes. Humberside Police removed the bodies and ashes in March 2024, and Bush faces jail time for his actions, which included giving families the wrong ashes and neglecting human remains. A team helped return personal items to families affected by the situation.
Key Facts
- Humberside Police removed 35 bodies and many ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in March 2024.
- Robert Bush, an undertaker, is the only person charged and faces sentencing on 27 July.
- Bush had kept over 1,000 personal items belonging to deceased individuals and their families.
- Crisis staff from Kenyon Emergency Services described the scene as very distressing, with personal items carelessly thrown around.
- The team was tasked with cleaning and cataloging recovered items to return them to families.
- Curreri's team, experienced in disasters, found the situation in Hull shocking and difficult.
- Families could use the catalog to identify and claim their loved ones’ belongings.
- Bush's actions prevented 30 burials and involved theft and negligence.
