Stourbridge teenager parents dig grave for miscarried BABY

Stourbridge teenager parents dig grave for miscarried BABY

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Confused' teenage parents went to a church graveyard at night, dug a grave and buried their miscarried baby after allegedly keeping the body in their house for two weeks.

Police were called to St James Church in Stourbridge, West Midlands on Monday morning after reports that earth in the graveyard had been disturbed.

Church officials confirmed human remains were found to have been buried unofficially in the grounds of the church.



Residents claimed a local white British teenage couple had dug their own grave for a baby, which they had kept in their house for two weeks after a miscarriage.

Church officials said the parents were 'confused' about what to do because they couldn't afford a proper funeral.

The Archdeacon of Dudley, Nikki Groarke, confirmed the remains had been exhumed so a proper burial can take place.



She said: 'An irregular burial was discovered in St James's churchyard and the police were contacted to ensure nothing untoward had happened.

'The remains have now been exhumed so a proper burial can take place.'

A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Worcester said the church reported the incident to police as soon as they could following the discovery on Saturday evening.



She added: 'It was a very sad and sensitive incident involving the body of a family member who had recently passed away.

'The family were confused about what they could do, as they weren't sure that they could afford a proper funeral.

'They were also unsure about the proper burial process and just wanted to do what they thought was right.

'The church is helping the family to bury the body in the proper manner. They will now be buried in a remembrance garden with prayers and a blessing.'

One resident, who lives near the church, said: 'I saw some commotion around there over the weekend and spoke to someone I know connected to the church.

'They said it was a young couple who had tragically miscarried and kept their baby in their house for two weeks.



'Apparently they came to the church and dug their own little grave for the remains without asking the church's permission.

'It seems they were worried about the cost of the funeral process so thought they could just do it themselves.

'It's awful to think what they must be going through.'

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'Police sealed off a small area of a graveyard at St James Church in Stourbridge, following a report of some earth being disturbed in the cemetery grounds.

'Following investigations, officers are satisfied that no criminal offences have taken place.'