Funeral Director Who Took Babies’ Bodies Home Says She ‘Read Them Bedtime Stories’
A funeral director accused of shocking bereaved families by taking babies’ bodies into her own home has defended her actions, insisting she did so to ensure the infants were “never alone” and were treated with love and dignity.
The Allegations
Amie Upton, 38, runs Florrie’s Army, a small funeral service she set up after the stillbirth of her own daughter. She has come under scrutiny following claims by parents who say they were left devastated after discovering their children’s bodies in her home instead of a mortuary or funeral parlour.
One grieving mother, Zoe Ward, 32, said she was horrified when she arrived to find her son Bleu’s body sitting in Ms Upton’s living room, positioned “in front of the TV watching cartoons.”
“I just screamed down the phone to my mum,” Ms Ward recalled. “She [Upton] said, ‘Come in, we’re watching PJ Masks.’ There was another baby on the sofa. It wasn’t a nice sight.”
Another family alleged that their stillborn daughter had “deteriorated” because she was not stored in a cold cot at the recommended temperature of 4–7°C. They said the child’s body was “really smelly” and claimed they had initially believed their daughter was being kept at a professional funeral facility.
Upton’s Response
Fighting back tears in an interview, Ms Upton said she only ever acted with compassion and insisted the babies in her care were treated with dignity.
“I know here the babies were never left alone. I was always here,” she told The Mirror. “They were always clean and tidy. They were not deteriorating or smelly as claimed. Their babies knew nothing but love.”
She admitted she did not place babies in refrigeration units overnight, but stressed that unlike hospital mortuaries, she was “always present” to watch over them.
“You don’t find nurses reading their babies a story,” she said. “I would. I only ever did my best. It is ridiculous to suggest otherwise.”
Ms Upton denied claims she put baby Bleu in a bouncer, saying instead that he was briefly laid in a “relaxed chair” before being transferred to a bed.
Personal Tragedy
Ms Upton’s own daughter, Florence, was stillborn at 29 weeks following a violent assault by her abusive partner, Shaun Birchall. Birchall pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was jailed for two years in April 2021.
The loss inspired Ms Upton to establish Florrie’s Army, named after her late child, with the aim of providing personalised funeral services to grieving families. “I just wanted to help people,” she said. “I wanted to make sure no baby ever felt abandoned.”
Institutional Concerns
Despite her intentions, questions have been raised about her practices. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, one of the institutions that allowed her to collect infants’ bodies, banned her from entering its mortuaries and maternity wards earlier this year following “serious concerns.” Safeguarding measures were put in place against her in 2021.
Funeral director Philip Gallagher, who signed out the babies’ bodies to her, said he had a “working relationship” with Ms Upton but acknowledged that concerns had been “thoroughly investigated.”
Meanwhile, West Yorkshire Police confirmed they had looked into complaints relating to Ms Upton’s funeral services on two occasions since 2021. After what they described as “extensive enquiries,” officers concluded that no crimes had been committed.
Parents’ Anguish
For families, however, the trauma has left lasting scars. Ms Ward said she initially felt reassured when she chose Ms Upton’s services. “She was lovely on the phone. I came away thinking this would be brilliant,” she said. “But when I saw my son like that in her home, I was upset and angry. It just felt wrong.”
The parents of the stillborn girl echoed similar feelings of betrayal. “We thought our daughter was at a funeral parlour in Headingley. Then we found out she was in her [Upton’s] living room,” the mother said. “I just didn’t know why she was there. It broke my heart.”
Divided Opinion
The controversy has sparked debate about the line between compassion and professionalism in funeral care. Some supporters of Ms Upton argue that her intentions were good, born from her own tragic experience of loss. Others, however, say her practices were inappropriate, potentially unhygienic, and distressing for families already in unimaginable pain.
Experts in bereavement care have pointed out that while emotional support is vital, professional standards must be maintained at all times to protect both families and the deceased.
A Career in Question
The revelations may put Ms Upton’s funeral service in jeopardy, with hospitals, families, and regulatory bodies increasingly cautious about working with her. Still, she continues to insist that she acted out of love rather than neglect.
“I know what it feels like to lose a child,” she said. “I just wanted these babies to be treated like my own.”
Wider Implications
The case highlights the vulnerability of grieving families and the importance of transparency in funeral services. When parents entrust funeral directors with the bodies of their children, they expect professional handling and clear communication.
While Ms Upton has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing, the controversy raises questions about regulation in the funeral industry, particularly among smaller independent providers who may not operate under the same oversight as larger companies.
For the families involved, however, the focus remains on the painful memories of what they experienced.
“I wanted to believe she cared,” Ms Ward said. “But what I saw in that living room, I can never unsee.”
