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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Body exhumed in care home inquiry | Body exhumed in care home inquiry |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The body of an elderly woman is to be the first of three exhumed by police probing seven deaths at a care home. | The body of an elderly woman is to be the first of three exhumed by police probing seven deaths at a care home. |
| Nellie "Mary" Pickford, who died last July aged 89, was a former resident at Parkfields home in Butleigh, near Glastonbury, Somerset. | |
| The home was closed in May after the death of 97-year-old Lucy Cox on New Year's Day. Two people have been arrested over Ms Cox's death. | The home was closed in May after the death of 97-year-old Lucy Cox on New Year's Day. Two people have been arrested over Ms Cox's death. |
| Police said the investigation was unprecedented in Avon and Somerset. | |
| The other two exhumations will take place in Butleigh later this month and near Somerton in July. | |
| The two people arrested in the inquiry are on police bail to report to officers in September. | |
| Nurse Rachel Baker, 45, was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance. | Nurse Rachel Baker, 45, 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. |
| The Avon and Somerset Police investigation began after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January. | The Avon and Somerset Police investigation began after an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January. |
| We received a total lack of co-operation and commitment from the home's owners towards improving standards CSCI spokesman | We received a total lack of co-operation and commitment from the home's owners towards improving standards CSCI spokesman |
| A CSCI spokesman said: "Certain matters were brought to our attention in early January that gave us serious concerns about the standards of care provided at Parkfields. We alerted the police immediately. | A CSCI spokesman said: "Certain matters were brought to our attention in early January that gave us serious concerns about the standards of care provided at Parkfields. We alerted the police immediately. |
| "We carried out an unannounced inspection at the home on 24 January and found that standards had deteriorated significantly since the previous inspection in June 2006. | "We carried out an unannounced inspection at the home on 24 January and found that standards had deteriorated significantly since the previous inspection in June 2006. |
| "Following the January inspection, we received a total lack of co-operation and commitment from the home's owners towards improving standards at the home. | "Following the January inspection, we received a total lack of co-operation and commitment from the home's owners towards improving standards at the home. |
| "This could not be allowed to continue, and on 15 March we successfully applied to magistrates for an emergency closure order. | "This could not be allowed to continue, and on 15 March we successfully applied to magistrates for an emergency closure order. |
| "Somerset County Council arranged alternative accommodation for the residents. | "Somerset County Council arranged alternative accommodation for the residents. |
| 'Extremely upset' | 'Extremely upset' |
| "We have continued to help the police with their investigation, and await the outcome with interest." | "We have continued to help the police with their investigation, and await the outcome with interest." |
| Detective Superintendent Trevor Simpson said: " "The purpose of the exhumation is to conduct a post-mortem, looking for the cause of death and achieving samples for analysis. | |
| "Hopefully, then within three days the family can conduct a private burial. | |
| "It is a huge step to make, unprecedented in Avon and Somerset, but we feel that the only way to successfully and properly conduct our operation is to do this." | |
| Ms Pickford's body will be exhumed from its resting place at Glastonbury Cemetery later. | |
| In a statement her family said: "Mrs Nellie Pickford, known to all as Mary, died peacefully on 19 July, 2006, aged 89. | In a statement her family said: "Mrs Nellie Pickford, known to all as Mary, died peacefully on 19 July, 2006, aged 89. |
| "She left behind two children and three grandchildren and has been greatly missed by all. | "She left behind two children and three grandchildren and has been greatly missed by all. |
| "The family are extremely upset at the news of the exhumation and request that they be left alone through this distressing period." | "The family are extremely upset at the news of the exhumation and request that they be left alone through this distressing period." |