A young couple from Devon were found dead at home by police passed away from different natural causes, according to findings at an inquest.
Aleasha Sullivan, 32, and Joshua Sandercock, 30, were discovered dead at her flat in Holcombe on October 21, 2021, a major crime investigation was launched by cops, reports Devon Live.
The inquest at Plymouth Coroners Court today, April 20, heard that following a post-mortem it was concluded that there was no evidence to suggest any connection between the two deaths, despite the pair being found at the same time, and in the same place.
It was also revealed that Aleasha had a domestic violence protection order against her partner after he was charged with an alleged assault.
Officers arrived at Aleasha's home following a welfare concern raised by her support worker after being notified that she had not been seen since October 12.
Aleasha was formally reported missing to police on October 21 and officers attended her home that morning and when they received no response they looked through the letterbox and noticed what they believed to be a body against the door.
They forced entry and the corpse was found to be Aleasha who had been dead for several days.
While continuing their search of the maisonette, police then discovered the body of Joshua in the living room upstairs.
Police treated the house as a potential crime scene until medical examinations revealed the pair had both died of natural causes.
Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Deborah Cook concluded that Aleasha, a mum who was born in Torquay, had died of pulmonary thromboembolism - a blood clot in her lungs.
Needle marks were found on her body and toxicology tests showed Aleasha had taken heroin prior to her death but the level detected was not associated with fatalities and it was not said to have accounted for her death.
The doctor also added that there had been no signs of any trauma to suggest there had been a physical assault or fall down the stairs.
Addressing the family, assistant coroner for south Devon Mike Bird said: "I can imagine as a family it is quite a surprising conclusion considering where the investigation started and two people having been found in same premises at the same time. The initial and natural speculation was that the two deaths were linked but after that detailed investigation there is no evidence to suggest Aleasha died from anything other than a wholly natural cause."
Aleasha's medical records showed drug dependency, mental health issues and as clotting problems in her legs which can be made worse through intravenous drug use.
The inquest also heard that in her lifetime she had faced social and family challenges and had been exposed to drugs, violence and abusive behaviour.
Aleasha became dependent on intravenous drugs, including heroin spent some time in prison but was engaging with support services and was said to be motivated to improve her situation and beat her problems.
The inquest heard she began a relationship with Joshua in May 2021, but it became abusive and on September 22, 2021, he was arrested over alleged violence against her.
Despite an order stopping him from having any contact with her or visiting her home they appeared to have maintained 'some degree' of contact.
Aleasha, who was unemployed at the time of her death, moved to Holcombe in August 2021 and her GP told in a statement how she had last been seen at the surgery that month and she had reported not having used illicit drugs in over 12 months and was 'very friendly and in a good mood'.
Her prescribing doctor at Together Drug and Alcohol Services said in a statement: "She was a very traumatised person but I had genuine hope for her and thought she was heading in a better direction."
Her Together support worker, who reported Aleasha missing to the police because it was 'out of character' for her not to be in contact with any support services and could not be reached by phone , added: "In the last meeting she was very much focused on the future and a fresh start."
She continued: "She wore her heart on her sleeve and was just full of character."
Police staff investigator Paul Cashman told the inquest the case was a set of 'very unusual circumstances'.
He said cops had been unable to establish when she had died, and only knew that the last confirmed sightings of Aleasha being on October 12 when she went to collect methadone from the local pharmacy.
She failed to collect her next prescription on October 15 and her neighbours also confirmed they had not seen her or heard any noise from within her home since October 12.
Mr Cashman recalled how police had carried out a 'drive past' on October 19 after receiving concerns about Aleasha's welfare but no activity was detected.
An independent review after the deaths said that cops had met the required standards expected.
It could not be confirmed exactly when Joshua entered the flat or how long he had been inside the property before his tragic death.
Mr Bird said: "Despite the unusual situation where another person was found deceased at the same address at the same time, there is no evidence after forensic, medical and police investigations to suggest the causes of death of the two individuals were in any way connected."
He continued: "It can only be said that Aleasha probably died after October 12 and her body was not found until October 21."
Recording his conclusion, he said: " Surprisingly, but very clear, is the conclusion that Aleasha's death is due to natural causes."
A seperate inquest was held this afternoon, April 20, into the death of Joshua. He was found passed away lying on his back on the sofa in Aleasha's upstairs living room.
It was revealed that Joshau's cause of death was pneumonia and tests showed he had taken methadone, which he had not been prescribed, in the hours before his death.
The amount not generally associated with fatalities depending on an individual's tolerance, and cannabis was also detected in his blood stream.
Pathologist Dr Cook said: "The methadone may have tipped the balance in a man suffering pneumonia to result in respiratory compromise that resulted in death.”
Dr Cook was unable to say whether he had died before his partner, but that no physical injuries were found that could have contributed to his death.
Medical records showed that he had a history of asthma, alcohol abuse, substance misuse including cocaine and cannabis, and mental health struggles and had suffered overdoses related to his drug taking.
In a statement, Joshua's stepmother described how he had a troubled childhood from the age of 13 onwards after getting in with the 'wrong crowd' and was first arrested when he was 18. She said his issues with alcohol meant he could not hold down a job.
She said: "When he drank his personality changed. He was not nice and could be aggressive and violent and it led to many interactions with the police."
His stepmother added: "They seemed very happy together although it was a volatile relationship on both sides."
"He had alcohol issues, used drugs and battled depression over the last 10 years but he remained a devoted dad and was loyal and loving to those close to him."
She said she spoke to Joshua by phone on October 2, and he had sounded 'really bunged up' and poorly and said that he and Aleasha had not been getting on.
She said that despite the court order, they 'could not stay from each other'. But she went onto say then they last spoke on the phone on October 8, by that time he did not sound unwell.
Recording a natural causes conclusion for Joshua's death, Mr Bird said: "It can be said very clearly there is no evidence of the suggestion the deaths were connected in any way other than entirely coincidentally.
"Neither one of them had anything to do with the death of the other. I can imagine how the community might view that conclusion.
"Here we deal with evidence and the evidence clearly from all sources says there was no connection."
Following Aleasha's death, a tribute from her family said: "She was a free-spirited, beautiful young lady who was adored by many and who will be loved and missed every day. Aleasha was a mother, daughter, sister, niece, auntie as well and a kind and loving friend to whomever she met, She never failed to light up and room with her bright and bubbly personality."
Aleasha's devastated family launched a GoFundMe page which raised more than £2,500 so far towards the cost of her funeral.
In the post it said: "Aleasha was loved by many, she was a funny, caring, beautiful selfless soul; a mother, daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter, auntie and a friend to anyone she met. She touched the lives of everyone she knew, and made an impact that will never be forgotten.
"She fought many battles but never lost hope, and was always strong enough to wake up and put her face on to face the new day with that Aleasha courage that we all know and love."
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