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.

Three Church of England vicars were in attendance at the exhumation and said prayers.

It is understood that Mrs Pickford's body is expected to be released back to her family within three days so that a private re-burial service can take place.

Two more bodies of former residents of Parkfields are also due to be exhumed. It is understood that the bodies of three other former residents 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.

The case is the first time in the history of Avon and Somerset Police that officers have exhumed bodies.

Detective Superintendent Trevor Simpson, who is leading the case, said: "We are not talking about poisonings in the traditional sense.

"We are checking for drugs but we cannot go into details for operational reasons."

(KMcA/SP)