Wife demands answers after husband's body lay in council toilet for six days
Julie Stephen says she cannot cannot understand how her husband Sean's presence went unnoticed after he entered a cubicle at Edinburgh's City Chambers on July 1 and never re-emerged. Julie, aged 47, was chatting with Sean on the phone when he felt unwell and used the facilities.
After failing to reach him subsequently, she reported him missing, yet it took nearly a week before his body was found. She is now pressing for answers from the council and police as to why her husband was left in such a state without detection.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Julie recounted: "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."
She continued: "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." To donate to the fundraiser towards Sean's funeral, you can do so here.
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