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| Derbyshire explosion: Murder inquiry launched after couple found dead | Derbyshire explosion: Murder inquiry launched after couple found dead |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The death of a woman whose body was found after an explosion which destroyed a house is being treated as murder, police have said. | The death of a woman whose body was found after an explosion which destroyed a house is being treated as murder, police have said. |
| Shelley Saxton-Cooper, 45, and her husband Simon were found inside a bedroom at the home in Riddings, Derbyshire. | Shelley Saxton-Cooper, 45, and her husband Simon were found inside a bedroom at the home in Riddings, Derbyshire. |
| The building partly collapsed after the blast and subsequent fire on Sunday. | The building partly collapsed after the blast and subsequent fire on Sunday. |
| Post-mortem examinations have yet to take place but Mrs Saxton-Cooper was wounded before the blast, police said. | Post-mortem examinations have yet to take place but Mrs Saxton-Cooper was wounded before the blast, police said. |
| It is not believed anyone else was involved, Derbyshire police said. | It is not believed anyone else was involved, Derbyshire police said. |
| The couple has not been formally identified but police said they believe the bodies are those of Mr and Mrs Saxton-Cooper. | |
| Ch Supt Sunita Gamblin said: "We believe that Shelley was wounded before the explosion and fire and we are treating her death as murder. | Ch Supt Sunita Gamblin said: "We believe that Shelley was wounded before the explosion and fire and we are treating her death as murder. |
| "We're still unable to say how either she or her husband died as post mortem examinations haven't been completed." | "We're still unable to say how either she or her husband died as post mortem examinations haven't been completed." |
| Forensic experts remain on scene investigating the cause of the fire, she added. | Forensic experts remain on scene investigating the cause of the fire, she added. |
| Emergency services declared a major incident after neighbours reported hearing a loud bang at about 07:30 BST on Sunday. | Emergency services declared a major incident after neighbours reported hearing a loud bang at about 07:30 BST on Sunday. |
| But they had to wait for the building to be declared safe after the fire destroyed much of the roof. | But they had to wait for the building to be declared safe after the fire destroyed much of the roof. |
| Jayne Titchmarsh, who lives two doors away, said the blast was "like a loud thunder." | Jayne Titchmarsh, who lives two doors away, said the blast was "like a loud thunder." |
| "I ran to the window and saw debris coming down across the window and there were flames on the front," she said. | "I ran to the window and saw debris coming down across the window and there were flames on the front," she said. |
| "I just couldn't believe it. The fire really took off. Everyone was shouting 'get out, get out' and I just ran with my son because we thought it was going to catch light. | "I just couldn't believe it. The fire really took off. Everyone was shouting 'get out, get out' and I just ran with my son because we thought it was going to catch light. |
| "It was just really frightening. I thought it might spread." | "It was just really frightening. I thought it might spread." |
| A pet dog which escaped the blast is being looked after by relatives of the couple. | A pet dog which escaped the blast is being looked after by relatives of the couple. |