Latest news with #JulieStephen
Euronews
5 days ago
- Euronews
Scottish man's body found in council toilet six days after death
A grieving widow is demanding answers about her husband's death after his body was found in a toilet at a council building in Scotland six days after he entered the cubicle. 48-year-old Julie Stephen said she believed her husband Sean's body was lying in the toilet at Edinburgh City Chambers for almost a week. She claimed she had been talking to her husband on the phone when he entered the council buildings on the Royal Mile on 1 July. Stephen contacted the police that evening to report his disappearance after he had reportedly complained about "feeling unwell" and became unreachable, but his body was not found until 7 July. "There's CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building," she told the Scottish national newspaper, the Daily Record. "He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi. I came off the phone when he was going to the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him." "How has no one been in that toilet for six days? It baffles me. Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for the rest of my life," she told the paper. Stephen said her 38-year-old husband's body was significantly decomposed by the time it was found and she was not allowed to see him, while police were only able to identify him with a DNA match. "At 9:20 pm on Tuesday 1 July, we received a report of concern for a 38-year-old man in the Edinburgh area who failed to make a pre-arranged appointment," a spokesperson for Police Scotland said. "Emergency services attended (following the body's discovery) and a man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal." Procurator fiscal is the Scottish title for the public prosecutor. City of Edinburgh council said it was assisting police with inquiries. "We're continuing to assist Police Scotland with their inquiries and can't comment any further at this stage. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time," a spokesperson said. Friends of the couple have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money towards the cost of his funeral, saying they were "devastated" by his death.
Euronews
6 days ago
- Euronews
Widow says husband's body found in council toilet six days after death
A grieving widow is demanding answers about her husband's death after his body was found in a toilet at a council building in Scotland six days after he entered the cubicle. 48-year-old Julie Stephen said she believed her husband Sean's body was lying in the toilet at Edinburgh City Chambers for almost a week. She claimed she had been talking to her husband on the phone when he entered the council buildings on the Royal Mile on 1 July. Stephen contacted the police that evening to report his disappearance after he had reportedly complained about "feeling unwell" and became unreachable, but his body was not found until 7 July. "There's CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building," she told the Scottish national newspaper, the Daily Record. "He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi. I came off the phone when he was going to the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him." "How has no one been in that toilet for six days? It baffles me. Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for the rest of my life," she told the paper. Stephen said her 38-year-old husband's body was significantly decomposed by the time it was found and she was not allowed to see him, while police were only able to identify him with a DNA match. "At 9:20 pm on Tuesday 1 July, we received a report of concern for a 38-year-old man in the Edinburgh area who failed to make a pre-arranged appointment," a spokesperson for Police Scotland said. "Emergency services attended (following the body's discovery) and a man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal." Procurator fiscal is the Scottish title for the public prosecutor. City of Edinburgh council said it was assisting police with inquiries. "We're continuing to assist Police Scotland with their inquiries and can't comment any further at this stage. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time," a spokesperson said. Friends of the couple have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money towards the cost of his funeral, saying they were "devastated" by his death.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
Widow's agony as man found dead in council loo six days after he was reported missing
A grieving widow is demanding answers after her husband's body was found in a locked toilet cubicle at a council's head office - six days after he went missing. Heartbroken Julie Stephen says she's 'baffled' why nobody had realised her 38-year-old partner Sean was still in the loo cubicle at Edinburgh City Chambers. The 47-year-old had been chatting with her spouse - who complained of feeling unwell - on the phone as he went into the local authority's Royal Mile buildings on July 1. But she was unable to reach him later on, she reported him missing. However, he wasn't discovered until almost a week later. Speaking on a TikTok LIVE Mrs Stephen said: 'There's CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building. 'He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi. 'I came off the phone when he was going to do the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him. 'It baffles me. 'There are security guards, cleaners and someone who sits at reception. 'The CID are still digging. 'Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for rest of my life.' Ms Stephen posted a picture of him online with the caption, 'Shame on Edinburgh district council.' The couple had been married since 2019 and she said she knew something was wrong when Sean wasn't answering his phone, prompting her to call 999 that evening. She added: 'I spoke to police on the phone but the first response I got was he's 38 years old. He couldn't be a missing person (yet) because of his age. 'We spent a week looking for him and put flyers in shops. 'We went searching everywhere. We were two minutes away from him, we didn't expect him to be in a locked building. 'When they found him, his body was so decomposed. I couldn't even see his body. 'I had to give his toothbrush for DNA. 'This could happen to anybody. It's horrible, it's torture.' A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends to help raise funds to cover the funeral costs for the 'loving gentle giant'. Ms Stephen said: 'I'm emotionally drained. I'm just asking for help. 'I just want to bring his body home and lay him to rest. 'I will get the answers but right now I just need to lay him to rest.' A spokesman for the city council said: 'We're continuing to assist Police Scotland with their inquiries and can't comment any further at this stage.' A police spokesman said: 'At 9.20pm on Tuesday, 1 July, 2025 we received a report of concern for a 38-year-old man in the Edinburgh area who failed to make an pre-arranged appointment. 'Enquiries were carried out to trace him and he was traced deceased on Monday, 7 July in the High Street area of Edinburgh.'
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Grieving widow demands to know how her husband's body lay uncovered in council toilets for six days
A grieving widow is demanding answers from the authorities after her husband's body lay uncovered in council toilets for six days. Heartbroken Julie Stephen says she's 'baffled' why nobody had realised the 38-year-old was still in the loo cubicle at Edinburgh City Chambers. The 47-year-old had been chatting with Sean - who complained of feeling unwell - on the phone as he went into the local authority's Royal Mile buildings on July 1. But she was unable to reach him later on, she reported him missing. However, he wasn't discovered until almost a week later. Speaking on a TikTok LIVE Julie said: 'There's CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building. 'He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi. 'I came off the phone when he was going to do the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him. 'How's no one been in that toilet for six days, it baffles me. 'There are security guards, cleaners and someone who sits at reception. 'The CID are still digging. 'Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for rest of my life.' Ms Stephen posted a picture of him online with the caption, 'Shame on Edinburgh district council. 'Left you inside their building for a week. You could've been saved.' The couple had been married since 2019 and she said she knew something was wrong when Sean wasn't answering his phone, prompting her to call 999 that evening. She added: 'I spoke to police on the phone but the first response I got was he's 38 years old. He couldn't be a missing person (yet) because of his age. 'We spent a week looking for him and put flyers in shops. 'We went searching everywhere. We were two minutes away from him, we didn't expect him to be in a locked building. 'When they found him his body was so decomposed. I couldn't even see his body. 'I had to give his toothbrush for DNA. 'This could happen to anybody. It's horrible, it's torture.' A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends to help raise funds to cover the funeral costs for the 'loving gentle giant'. Ms Stephen said: 'I'm emotionally drained. I'm just asking for help. 'I just want to bring his body home and lay him to rest. 'I will get the answers but right now I just need to lay him to rest.' A spokesman for the city council said: 'We're continuing to assist Police Scotland with their inquiries and can't comment any further at this stage.' A police spokesman said: 'At 9.20pm on Tuesday, 1 July, 2025 we received a report of concern for a 38-year-old man in the Edinburgh area who failed to make an pre-arranged appointment. 'Enquiries were carried out to trace him and he was traced deceased on Monday, 7 July in the High Street area of Edinburgh.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Wife demands answers after husband lay dead in Edinburgh City Chambers toilets for six days
A grief-stricken wife has demanded answers over her husband's death after he was discovered dead inside an Edinburgh City Chambers toilet six days after entering the cubicle. Heartbroken Julie Stephen says she's 'baffled' why nobody realised Sean was still in the toilet cubicle after complaining of 'feeling unwell'. Julie, 47, was chatting with Sean on the phone as he went into the council's Royal Mile HQ on July 1. READ MORE: Edinburgh van with 'hole sawn in back and wedged in fence' as police swoop READ MORE: Leslie Ash unveils 'amazing' facelift results after 'losing herself completely' After later being unable to reach her husband she reported him missing but he wasn't discovered until almost a week later. Now wife Julie has begged police and council chiefs to explain why his decomposing body was not found for six days in the toilet. Julie said: 'There's CCTV footage of him on the phone to me walking up the Royal Mile and into the council building. He was healthy but said he was feeling dizzy and sick. He said he was going to get a taxi. 'I came off the phone when he was going to do the toilet. That was the last time I spoke to him. How's no one been in that toilet for six days, it baffles me. 'There are security guards, cleaners and someone who sits at reception. The CID are still digging. Could he have been saved? These are questions which will be in my head for rest of my life.' Julie posted a picture of Sean, 38, online with the caption, 'Shame on Edinburgh Council. Left you inside their building for a week. You could've been saved.' The couple had been married since 2019. Julie revealed she knew something was wrong when Sean wasn't answering his phone prompting her to call 999 that evening. She said: 'I spoke to police on the phone but the first response I got was he's 38 years old. He couldn't be a missing person (yet) because of his age. We spent a week looking for him and put flyers in shops. 'We went searching everywhere. We were two minutes away from him, we didn't expect him to be in a locked building. When they found him his body was so decomposed. I couldn't even see his body. 'I had to give his toothbrush for DNA. This could happen to anybody. It's horrible, it's torture.' Julie said: 'I'm emotionally drained. I'm just asking for help. I just want to bring his body home and lay him to rest. 'I will get the answers but right now I just need to lay him to rest.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'At 9.20pm on Tuesday, 1 July, 2025 we received a report of concern for a 38-year-old man in the Edinburgh area who failed to make an pre-arranged appointment. Enquiries were carried out to trace him and he was traced deceased on Monday, 7 July in the High Street area of Edinburgh.' Edinburgh City Council were also asked for comment. A Council spokesperson said: 'We're continuing to assist Police Scotland with their inquiries and can't comment any further at this stage.' A GoFundMe page has been set up by pals to help raise funds to cover the funeral costs for the 'loving gentle giant'. Sean's pal Adele Ford, who set up the gofundme page, said: 'I'm looking to raise some funds towards Sean's funeral costs. It's to lift a bit pressure off his wife Julie and family. Sean went missing on 1st July 2025 and unfortunately was found dead on 7th July 2025. 'This was very unexpected. He's only 38 years old he had his full life ahead of him he was the most loving gentle giant you'd ever meet. He was born and bred in the Southside area of Edinburgh and was well known by a lot of people 'I was like a sister to Sean. We are absolutely devastated that he was found dead, unexplained. Any help would be appreciated to give him the best send off he deserves. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Tributes were paid to Sean after his death was confirmed. Emergency crews raced to the City Chambers at around 9.20am on July 1 after police received a report of an unresponsive man inside the building's customer support hub. The 38-year-old was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. To donate to the fundraiser towards Sean's funeral, you can do so here. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
