A devastated woman is demanding accountability after her husband’s body was discovered in a council building toilet six days after he went missing.
Julie Stephen, 47, reported her husband Sean, 38, missing when she was unable to reach him. She distributed missing person flyers and tirelessly searched for him—only to learn nearly a week later that he had been lying dead in a toilet cubicle at Edinburgh’s City Chambers the entire time.
Julie said Sean had called her while walking along the Royal Mile, saying he felt dizzy and unwell and intended to take a taxi home. Security footage confirmed he entered the council building shortly after the call. That was the last time she heard from him.
“I just can’t understand how no one noticed,” Julie told the Daily Record. “He went into that cubicle and wasn’t found for six days. There are security guards, cleaners, and reception staff—how did everyone miss this?”
Still searching for answers, Julie added, “Could he have been saved if they found him earlier? That question will haunt me forever.”
Frustrated and heartbroken, she shared a photo of Sean online with the message: “Shame on Edinburgh Council. Left you inside their building for a week. You could’ve been saved.”
The couple had been married for six years. Julie said she knew something was wrong when Sean didn’t return her calls, prompting her to call emergency services. However, she claims the initial police response dismissed the urgency, citing his age.
“We searched everywhere—putting up posters, checking the area—never thinking he was locked inside a public building,” she said. “When they finally found him, his body was so decomposed I wasn’t allowed to see him. I had to give his toothbrush for DNA. It’s horrific. It could happen to anyone.”
Julie said she is emotionally shattered and now just wants to bring Sean home for a proper burial. “I need answers, but right now, I just want peace for him,” she said.
Police Scotland confirmed they received a report of concern for Sean on July 1, 2025, after he failed to attend a scheduled appointment. His body was found on July 7 in a toilet in the High Street area.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council stated, “We are continuing to assist Police Scotland with their investigation and cannot comment further at this time.”
