On October 15, 2025, the funeral industry in both the United Kingdom and the United States found itself under a harsh spotlight as two high-profile cases of alleged and admitted misconduct by funeral directors came to a head in courts on either side of the Atlantic. In Hull, England, Robert Bush, a 47-year-old former funeral director, pleaded guilty to a staggering 36 charges of fraud, while in Houston, Texas, 72-year-old Michael Richardson faced court for three felony counts of abuse of corpse. Both cases have sent shockwaves through their respective communities and raised urgent questions about oversight, trust, and the treatment of the deceased.
According to BBC News, Robert Bush’s case unfolded at Hull Crown Court, where he admitted to 35 offences of fraud by false representation and one count of fraudulently running his business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. The charges stemmed from a major investigation launched by Humberside Police in March 2024, following reports of “concern for care of the deceased.” The investigation led to the grisly discovery of at least 30 bodies at Bush’s premises, including the remains of four babies lost in pregnancy.
Bush’s fraudulent activities spanned more than 12 years, with the court hearing that he had “dishonestly [made] false promises” to grieving families, including the parents of four stillborn babies who were given unidentified ashes in place of their children’s remains. Four of the fraud counts specifically related to ashes provided to families following loss in pregnancy. The emotional toll on the victims was palpable in court, as gasps filled the packed public gallery each time Bush entered a not guilty plea to other charges. A woman even heckled Bush as he was escorted from the courtroom, a moment that underscored the community’s outrage and grief.
In addition to the fraud charges, Bush denied 30 counts of preventing lawful and decent burials and one charge of stealing money from charity collection boxes. These additional allegations, which he will face at a trial scheduled for October 5, 2026, at Sheffield Crown Court, relate to the handling of human remains and the alleged theft from charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support and the Salvation Army. For now, Bush remains on bail, awaiting the next phase of his legal battle.
The details of the hearing were as chilling as they were meticulous. It took the court clerk 22 minutes to read all 67 charges, with Bush standing in a grey three-piece suit, white shirt, and purple tie—his demeanor reportedly emotionless as he faced the families of those whose trust he had so deeply violated. Judge John Thackray KC informed Bush that sentencing for the 36 offences to which he pleaded guilty would follow the conclusion of his trial next year.
In a statement released after the hearing, Humberside Police emphasized the ongoing nature of the case, saying, “We are unable to provide any further details or information at this time to ensure judicial proceedings are not jeopardised. Further comment will be made available on conclusion of all court hearings, at which time the offences he has pleaded guilty to will also be dealt with.” The force also reminded the public that Victim Support services remain available for anyone affected by the incident.
Across the Atlantic, a different but equally troubling scene played out in a Houston courtroom. As reported by FOX 26, Michael Richardson, the former director of Richardson Mortuary, appeared before a judge to answer for three felony counts of abuse of corpse. The charges arose after authorities discovered dozens of bodies in various stages of decomposition inside the mortuary in April 2025, with some described as being in a “liquified” state. The facility’s air conditioning was not functioning, and some bodies were covered in bugs—a situation described by the prosecutor as both inhumane and shocking.
Richardson’s attorney, Rick DeToto, told the court that his client, who suffers from congestive heart failure, was hospitalized at the time the bodies were discovered and had not been involved in the day-to-day operations. “He’s dealing with his health condition, and, at the time that this happened, he was not in the day-to-day control of the mortuary,” DeToto argued, maintaining Richardson’s not guilty plea. Richardson’s bond was set at $7,500—$2,500 for each count—and he was released pending further proceedings.
The emotional impact of the Houston case was brought into sharp relief by Tamara McGruder Crooks, whose mother and uncle were among the deceased found at the mortuary. She described the traumatic moment of her discovery: “That was my mother, Sarah Ann Williams, and my Uncle Bruce Bernard McGruder, who had the gnats, and she was the one who was found. That is the moment I can’t get over. They may have not killed my mother, but they killed my vision. Every time I think of a happy moment, it brings me back to see her with a bag and gnats with the smell and the leakage. So I do have nightmares, I’m afraid, and it’s not fair.” Her words echoed the sentiments of many families who entrust funeral directors with the sacred responsibility of caring for their loved ones’ remains—a trust that, in these cases, appears to have been grievously broken.
Questions about regulatory oversight and industry standards loom large in the wake of these cases. While most funeral directors operate with compassion and professionalism, these high-profile failings highlight the devastating consequences when that trust is betrayed. As McGruder Crooks poignantly asked, “If we can get charged for being cruel to a dog, why is that you walk away for being cruel to humans?”
In the UK, the Bush case has prompted calls for tighter regulation of the funeral industry, with advocates arguing that more robust checks and balances are needed to prevent such abuses. The fact that Bush’s fraudulent activities reportedly spanned more than a decade raises uncomfortable questions about how such conduct could go undetected for so long. In the US, the Richardson case has similarly sparked debate about the adequacy of state oversight and the need for greater accountability.
For now, both cases remain ongoing, with further court proceedings set for the coming year. The families affected continue to seek justice and closure, while the broader public grapples with the unsettling reality that, in rare but devastating instances, the final act of care for the deceased can be marred by deception and neglect. As the legal process unfolds, the hope is that these tragedies will serve as a catalyst for change—ensuring that all families can trust those charged with their most sensitive moments.