Care home murders probe: Man bailed - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Care home murders probe: Man bailed

A chef who was arrested four days ago on suspicion of murdering five elderly residents at a care home he managed with his wife was released on police bail.

Leigh Baker, 48, left Yeovil police station without being charged, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed.

His wife, Rachel Baker, 45, who was held for three days over the same allegations, was released on bail on Wednesday night.

Force spokesman Dan Mountain said: "A 48-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the murder of four women and one man, theft and unlawful possession of controlled and prescribed controlled drugs and perverting the course of justice has now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

"A 45-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of the same offences was released on police bail pending further inquiries late last night, Wednesday."

Mr Baker and his wife, a registered nurse, had been held since Monday over the deaths of four women and a man at Parkfields Residential Home in Butleigh, Somerset, which they ran for nine years.

The couple were initially interviewed following the death of 97-year-old Lucy Cox on New Year's Day.

During the investigation, detectives also decided to exhume the remains of three other former residents in order to carry out toxicology tests and establish whether they had been poisoned.

Answering bail on Monday morning, the Bakers were arrested on suspicion of murdering Mrs Cox, along with Nellie Pickford, 89, Marion Alder, 79, and Fred Green, 81. A fifth "suspicious" death remains unidentified by police.

Mr and Mrs Baker live in Glastonbury with their five-year-old daughter.

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