12/06/2007

Second body to be exhumed in care home investigation

Police investigating seven suspicious deaths at a Somerset care home are due to exhume a second body.

The body of Marion Alder is due to be removed from the graveyard of St Leonard's Church in Butleigh in Somerset.

The 79-year-old died last July in the Parkfields residential home in the village.

Mrs Alder's body is the second to be exhumed in the case and her remains will be examined for signs of drug poisoning.

Last Tuesday, the body of Nellie 'Mary' Pickford, who died at the same care home at the age of 89, was exhumed at Glastonbury Cemetery in order to be examined for signs of drug poisoning.

Her body was re-buried the following day.

Another body is due to be exhumed in Somerton in Somerset in the coming weeks. It is understood that the bodies of three other former residents of the care home cannot be examined because they were cremated.

Parkfields was closed down in May, following the death of Lucy Cox, 97, on New Year's Day.

The home's former managers were arrested in connection with her death - Rachel Baker, 45, a nurse who was listed as the home's manager and her husband, Leigh, 48, a chef at the home.

Mrs Baker was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance, while Mr Baker was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the administration of a noxious substance.

The couple, who live in Glastonbury, were both released on bail until September.

(KMcA/JM)


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06 June 2007
Body exhumed in care home deaths investigation
Police investigating seven suspicious deaths at a Somerset care home have exhumed a body. The body of Nellie 'Mary' Pickford, who died at Parkfields residential home in Butleigh at the age of 89, was exhumed at Glastonbury Cemetery on Tuesday night in order to be examined for signs of drug poisoning.
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Bodies exhumed in care home deaths investigation
Police investigating suspicious deaths at a Somerset care home are to exhume three bodies to examine for signs of drug poisoning. The body of Nellie 'Mary' Pickford, who died at Parkfields residential home in Butleigh at the age of 89, will be the first to be exhumed. Her body is due to be exhumed from Glastonbury Cemetery on Tuesday.
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