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| Body exhumed in care home probe | Body exhumed in care home probe |
| (40 minutes 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 at Parkfields residential home to be tested for drug poisoning. | She is the first of three former residents at Parkfields residential home to be tested for drug poisoning. |
| 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 |
| Along with Mrs Pickford, detectives are also investigating the deaths of six other elderly residents at Parkfields, in the village of Butleigh. | Along with Mrs Pickford, detectives are also investigating the deaths of six other elderly residents at Parkfields, in the village of Butleigh. |
| 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." | "We are checking for drugs but we cannot go into details for operational reasons." |
| Mrs Pickford's body will be taken for a post-mortem examination later on Wednesday and results will be sent off for toxicology tests. | Mrs Pickford's body will be taken for a post-mortem examination later on Wednesday and results will be sent off for toxicology tests. |
| 'Families consulted' | 'Families consulted' |
| "The investigation began in January when we conducted the post-mortem of another resident (Lucy Cox)," Det Supt Simpson explained. | "The investigation began in January when we conducted the post-mortem of another resident (Lucy Cox)," Det Supt Simpson 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. | "The family, who have been consulted throughout, are extremely upset and distressed. |
| Police are unable to examine the bodies of three other former residents because they were cremated. | Police are unable to examine the bodies of three other former residents because they were cremated. |
| It is the first time in Avon and Somerset Police history that officers have taken the step of exhuming bodies. | It is the first time in Avon and Somerset Police history that officers have taken the step of exhuming bodies. |
| Private re-burial | Private re-burial |
| 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. |