Mummified parents laid to rest 15 years later in Edinburgh

The mummified bodies of couple who were stored for 15 years by their son have finally been laid to rest after a funeral in Edinburgh.

Hilda Marcel died on February 10, 1987, aged 68 while Eugenois died on August 31, 1994, aged 91.

In May 2002, police investigating another matter discovered the couple had not been buried but were stored in their son Melvyn’s premises at Gilmour Place.

Their bodies were embalmed and a relative regularly visited them at the shop. 

Prosecutors were told of the discovery, but no proceedings were brought and the procurator fiscal said the bodies could be released for burial or cremation.

The embalmed bodies were moved to a city mortuary, where they were stored until a lengthy court battle rejected their son’s Melvyn Marcel appeal to keep the bodies at his property.

In February, a court ruled the council had a ‘statutory duty’ to dispose of the remains. 

Edinburgh City Council confirmed the couple had been buried at a funeral at Craigmillar Castle Park Cemetery on Thursday.

She said: ‘A funeral was held today for Mr and Mrs Marcel.’

Police were investigating an alleged fraud at a funeral home in West Lothia when they discovered Mr and Mrs Marcel’s bodies.

Edinburgh City Council confirmed the couple had been buried at a funeral at Craigmillar Castle Park Cemetery on Thursday

Staff at the Broxburn undertakers were allegedly paid to preserve the remains and four employees were sacked.

But nobody allegedly involved in the fraud were charged or prosecuted for any offence.

Since then the Marcels’ bodies have been stored at Edinburgh City Council’s mortuary.

Edinburgh City Council has been discussing the burial of the couple with Mr Marcel since 2012 but applied for permission to bury them after he made no arrangements.