This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/6725079.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Body exhumed in care home probe | Body exhumed in care home probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The exhumation of an elderly woman's body as part of an inquiry in to seven suspicious deaths at a care home in Somerset is complete. | The exhumation of an elderly woman's body as part of an inquiry in to seven suspicious deaths at a care home in Somerset is complete. |
| Forensic officers began to remove the body of Nellie "Mary" Pickford, 89, at midnight on Wednesday. | Forensic officers began to remove the body of Nellie "Mary" Pickford, 89, at midnight on Wednesday. |
| She is the first of three former residents of Parkfields care home to be exhumed and tested for drugs. | |
| Police said the operation at Glastonbury Cemetery had gone "smoothly" thanks to clear conditions. | Police said the operation at Glastonbury Cemetery had gone "smoothly" thanks to clear conditions. |
| Jill Fowler, who held a solitary vigil across the road from the cemetery said she did not know Mrs Pickford, but "just didn't want her to be alone". | Jill Fowler, who held a solitary vigil across the road from the cemetery said she did not know Mrs Pickford, but "just didn't want her to be alone". |
| "I just wanted to say a little prayer and light a candle," she said. | "I just wanted to say a little prayer and light a candle," she said. |
| Three Church of England vicars were in attendance and led prayers during the exhumation. | Three Church of England vicars were in attendance and led prayers during the exhumation. |
| It is a drastic measure to carry out exhumations, but we feel it is essential Det Supt Trevor Simpson, Avon and Somerset Police | It is a drastic measure to carry out exhumations, but we feel it is essential Det Supt Trevor Simpson, Avon and Somerset Police |
| A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "At midnight last night, as planned, work started on the exhumation. | |
| "Shortly before 5.25, Mrs Pickford's remains were taken to a hearse and driven to a mortuary, where a forensic post mortem examination will take place later. | |
| "Also in attendance were the deputy county coroner's officer, environmental officers, police forensic experts, undertakers, and the family liaison officer who has been appointed to act as the first point of contact for Mrs Pickford's family." | |
| Along with Mrs Pickford, detectives are also investigating the deaths of six other residents at Parkfields, in Butleigh near Glastonbury. | |
| Two more exhumations will follow. | Two more exhumations will follow. |
| The home's former managers, Rachel and Leigh Baker, were originally arrested following the death of Lucy Cox, 97 on New Year's Day. | The home's former managers, Rachel and Leigh Baker, were originally arrested following the death of Lucy Cox, 97 on New Year's Day. |
| Nurse Rachel Baker, 45, who was listed as the home manager, was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance. | Nurse Rachel Baker, 45, who was listed as the home manager, was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance. |
| Her 48-year-old husband Leigh Baker, a chef at the home, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the administration of a noxious substance. | Her 48-year-old husband Leigh Baker, a chef at the home, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the administration of a noxious substance. |
| New evidence from old graves | New evidence from old graves |
| Both have been bailed without charge until September. | Both have been bailed without charge until September. |
| Det Supt Trevor Simpson leading the case, said: "We are not talking about poisonings in the traditional sense. | Det Supt Trevor Simpson 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. | |
| "The investigation began in January when we conducted the post-mortem of another resident (Lucy Cox)," he explained. | |
| "As a result we have become suspicious about the other deaths. It is a drastic measure to carry out exhumations, but we feel it is essential. | "As a result we have become suspicious about the other deaths. It is a drastic measure to carry out exhumations, but we feel it is essential. |
| "The family, who have been consulted throughout, are extremely upset and distressed." | |
| Private re-burial | Private re-burial |
| Police are unable to examine the bodies of three other former residents because they were cremated. | |
| The investigation began after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January. | The investigation began after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January. |
| A CSCI spokesman said: "We carried out an unannounced inspection at the home... and found that standards had deteriorated significantly since the previous inspection in June 2006." | A CSCI spokesman said: "We carried out an unannounced inspection at the home... and found that standards had deteriorated significantly since the previous inspection in June 2006." |
| An emergency closure notice was issued after standards failed to improve, the CSCI said. | An emergency closure notice was issued after standards failed to improve, the CSCI said. |
| Mrs Pickford's body is expected to be released back to the family within three days so they can conduct a private re-burial service. | Mrs Pickford's body is expected to be released back to the family within three days so they can conduct a private re-burial service. |