I’m terrified I kissed empty coffin when I laid dad to rest after 35 corpses were REMOVED from ‘fraudulent’ funeral home
A HEARTBROKEN daughter fears she “was kissing an empty coffin” when she laid her dad to rest after 35 bodies were found at a "fraudulent" funeral home.
Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull is accused of stashing corpses after another family found out the ashes of their loved one - which they used to make jewellery - could belong to someone else.
The scandal emerged after police raided the funeral parlour over "concern for care of the deceased".
Cordons were in place at the firm's branches on Hessle Road and Anlaby Road in Hull, and Beckside in Beverley.
Billie-Jo Suffill, 33, lost her dad Andy Suffill, 52, just a few days after her brother in July 2022.
The family used the firm for the cremation but says she "never received" her dad's ashes.
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Fearing she may be a victim of the alleged crime, mum-of-three Billie-Jo said: "I never actually got to see my dad’s body.
“I bet my dad was not even in the coffin - it was an empty coffin.
"I was kissing an empty coffin. When I think about it now it is disgusting.
“I got ashes after my brother’s funeral. But now I don’t even know if they are his ashes and I never got any from my dad."
Humberside Police said a "quantity of what we suspect to be human ashes" was also removed from the Hessle Road site.
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman arrested in connection with the investigation have been bailed.
HUSBAND STILL IN FREEZER
It comes after a widow was allegedly told by Legacy she would have to identify the body of her dead husband eight months after she believed he had been cremated.
Three generations of women in the family - his widow, daughter and granddaughter - have all been wearing jewellery made from his supposed "ashes".
This is despite the family being given what they were told were his ashes a month ago.
Some fear the allegations against the funeral parlour could hit families going back 13 years.
A coroner and the family should be informed if a body is to be kept frozen.
'A DISTRESSING TIME'
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Humberside Police Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLaughlin said: "So far, we are pursuing extensive lines of inquiry.
"And have special search and forensic teams conducting thorough searches of various business premises that are linked to the suspects that were detained this weekend.
"I can confirm that a man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful, decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.
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"They have since been released on police bail with conditions whilst our investigation is continuing.
"I recognise that this is a distressing time for all of those affected and I have no doubt it will have a significant impact across all our local communities and beyond."