A Logan funeral director with three decades of experience has been left shaken after allegedly discovering that visitors had removed part of a deceased man’s body during a private viewing.
Esther Swanborough, 58, operates Swanborough Funerals in Browns Plains, south of Brisbane, providing funeral services around the clock, seven days a week.
However, she and her staff were confronted with a shocking situation on Friday when relatives and acquaintances visited the funeral home to spend time with a deceased man.
Queensland Police allege that two men and a woman arrived at the premises shortly before 1pm after arranging to view the body of a man known to them.
‘It is alleged one of the men interfered with the corpse whilst at the premises and fled the scene before police arrival,’ Queensland Police said in a statement.
The man was arrested shortly before 6.30pm at a Browns Plains address. The other man and the woman were arrested at the funeral home.
‘Everyone is shocked. Based on our understanding, this appeared to be a premeditated act,’ Ms Swanborough told Our News Outlet on Saturday.
‘When we realised what had happened, we immediately called police. It was a shocking event for everyone on our team.’
Esther Swanborough (pictured) runs Swanborough Funerals in Browns Plains, Logan
The funeral director was shaken after allegedly discovering that visitors had removed part of the deceased man’s body during a viewing
Ms Swanborough said she realised something was wrong when she returned to the room to check on the three visitors and ask them some questions. She said the group was not from the Logan area.
‘I was personally asked [to step out] and they said, “We have our cultural reasons”,’ she said.
‘I always go and check how visitors are doing. I had received some specific requests from the family, which was why I went back into the room.’
‘This had nothing to do with culture. This was not a cultural practice. It was something very different.’
Ms Swanborough said the discovery had deeply shocked her.
‘As funeral directors, we are good at reading people. I realised something untoward appeared to be happening,’ she said.
‘I confronted them. What happened was not acceptable, either morally or ethically.’
‘I have been a funeral director for 30 years and have never experienced anything like this. Any funeral home would have been in the same position.’
Ms Swanborough, who has worked in the funeral industry for three decades, said her team had protocols in place and was coping despite being shocked and disappointed
Ms Swanborough said her team had established protocols in place and was coping despite the shock and disappointment of the incident.
‘Our focus has been on caring for our team members as well as caring for the deceased,’ she said.
The 47-year-old man, 38-year-old man and 43-year-old woman were each charged on Friday.
They each face one count of entering premises with intent to commit an indictable offence, being armed with intent to enter premises and commit an indictable offence, and misconduct with a corpse.
During a mention of the three cases at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday, Magistrate Peter Saggers said the group had been carrying several sharp implements, according to The Courier-Mail.
‘Just reading the bench charge sheets, they’re entering Swanborough Funerals home at Browns Plains, whilst armed with scissors, scalpels, and blades to commit an offence, and then, without justification, interfered, namely, wounded a dead body,’ he said.
The 47-year-old man did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on November 12.
The 38-year-old man’s case was adjourned because a Korean interpreter was required. He was remanded in custody and is due back in court on November 10.
The woman also did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody. She is scheduled to appear in court via video link on December 7.
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