Moment police officers set foot in 'horror scene' funeral home
BBC News 2026-07-29 17:00:41
Context: Robert Bush, the director of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, has been found to have committed a series of heinous crimes, including failing to bury and cremate bodies, and giving out wrong ashes, after police raided his funeral home in March 2024 and discovered a "horror scene" with 35 bodies and over 100 sets of ashes. The funeral home, located on Hessle Road in Hull, was found to have a labyrinth of dimly-lit corridors, strewn with rubbish and in total disorder, starkly contrasting with the opulent and welcoming atmosphere presented to customers. Bush has since admitted to 67 offences and is set to be sentenced.
Key Facts
- Robert Bush, the director of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in March 2024, having just returned from holiday, and was found to have accumulated 35 bodies and over 100 sets of ashes at his funeral home, which he had failed to cremate or bury in a timely manner.
- During police interviews, Bush attributed his crimes to "poor choices" and "cash flow problems", stating that he had not intended to hurt anyone, but had instead sought to "catch up" on his backlog of bodies by delaying cremations and burials.
- Among the most disturbing discoveries made by police were remains in a paper bag, initially mistaken for a baby bird, but later found to be those of Baby Jasmine Beverley, born on May 13, 2022, with hospital wristbands still wrapped around her waist.
- Footage from police body-worn cameras revealed a chaotic scene at the funeral home, with instruments and carrier bags discarded on work surfaces, desks littered with paperwork, and piles of rubbish underneath Bush's desk, contrasting with neatly hung motorcycle suits and helmets.