REAL

In the final episode in this series, we look at crimes from the United States within funeral homes that have led the way for meaningful change and tighter legislation. And we end the series with hope and reassurance, by reflecting on the people doing incredible work in the funeral industry.

Including Kirstie Atherton, a funeral celebrant and founder of the community interest company 'Dead Positive', who is revolutionising the funeral industry, taking people and communities by the hand as they explore issues around death, dying, funerals and bereavement.

This is Grave Concerns.

To find out more about Dead Positive, please see here:
https://www.deadpositive.org/

If you'd like to support the show, please see the link to my Patreon here, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need support, please see the organisations below who can help you:

England and Wales - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Scotland - https://victimsupport.scot/

Ireland - https://www.crimevictimshelpline.ie/

Northern Ireland - https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Australia - https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/

New Zealand - https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/

America - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services

Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/services-services.html

Baby Loss Support - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains references to the sexual abuse of corpses. Whilst the descriptions are not explicit, please take extra care whilst listening.

In the last 15 years, 2 cases of serious and depraved crimes happening inside hospital mortuaries have shocked and disgusted the world. Jimmy Savile and David Fuller's actions have broken the hearts and spirit of their victims families and led the way for new regulation within mortuary settings.

This is Grave Concerns.

If you'd like to support the show, please see the link to my Patreon here, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need support, please see the organisations below who can help you:

England and Wales - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Scotland - https://victimsupport.scot/

Ireland - https://www.crimevictimshelpline.ie/

Northern Ireland - https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Australia - https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/

New Zealand - https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/

America - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services

Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/services-services.html

Baby Loss Support - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It takes a low person to scam grieving families when they are at their most vulnerable, and there is one man who has done just that, time and time again.

This episode looks at the crimes of Mark Kerbey, also known as Richard Sage, who has committed crimes and served a series of prison sentences for scamming, stealing and traumatising people accessing his funeral services across England and Scotland.

We also hear from Ross Hickton, the managing director of Hickton Family Funeral Directors and the current CEO of SAIF - The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, who is setting standards across the funeral industry and helping the government with the upcoming regulation.

This is Grave Concerns.

If you'd like to support the show, please see the link to my Patreon here, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

To find out more about SAIF and view their members directory, please see here:
https://saif.org.uk/

If you need support, please see the organisations below who can help you:

England and Wales - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Scotland - https://victimsupport.scot/

Ireland - https://www.crimevictimshelpline.ie/

Northern Ireland - https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Australia - https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/

New Zealand - https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/

America - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services

Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/services-services.html

Baby Loss Support - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode centres around the experiences of grieving parents and baby-loss.

In the summer of 2025, the BBC published a news story that broke the hearts of parents around the country. Two families had discovered the bodies of their babies, in the home of a funeral director.

These parents have now bravely spoken out to try to help change regulations in the UK and question why anyone, without education or training, can open a funeral home.

We also look back at a case that broke in 2012, which impacted hundreds of parents, who learnt the truth about where their babies ashes were and what was done to ensure this couldn't happen again in Scotland.

This is Grave Concerns.

If you'd like to support the show, please see the link to my Patreon here, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need support, please see the organisations below who can help you:

England and Wales - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Scotland - https://victimsupport.scot/

Ireland - https://www.crimevictimshelpline.ie/

Northern Ireland - https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Australia - https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/

New Zealand - https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/

America - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services

Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/services-services.html

Baby Loss Support

UK - www.heldinourhearts.org.uk (Nicola's Charity)

UK - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Canada - https://www.babysbreathcanada.ca

Ireland - https://feileacain.ie/

Australia - https://www.sands.org.au/

USA - https://starlegacyfoundation.org
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shadow funeral services are the parts of the funeral industry that are often out of the public's view. In this episode, we hear about cases that have been uncovered by journalists and families who discovered that their deceased loved one, wasn't where they thought they were.

We also hear from Andrew Judd, the CEO of the National Association of Funeral Directors, who offers comfort and reassurance - these are isolated incidents and shares more information about the NAFD and how families can ensure they choose the right funeral director.

This is Grave Concerns.

The NAFD's website is here, where you can search for a funeral home that has an active membership with them:
https://www.funeral-directory.co.uk/

If you'd like to support the show, please see the link to my Patreon here, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast

If you need support, please see the organisations below who can help you:

England and Wales - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Scotland - https://victimsupport.scot/

Ireland - https://www.crimevictimshelpline.ie/

Northern Ireland - https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Australia - https://victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/

New Zealand - https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/

America - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services

Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/services-services.html

Baby Loss Support - https://www.sands.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.