The death of a 19-year-old student found in a hotel room with two middle-aged men is set to be re-examined after the Metropolitan Police said aspects of its initial investigation were “not handled correctly”.
Edward Cornes was found dead in a basement room of a two-star hotel in King’s Cross in October 2021, just two days after being dropped off at University College London by his parents to study for a history degree.
A post-mortem examination found he had large amounts of alcohol, crystal meth and date-rape drug GHB, known as gamma-hydroxybutyrate, in his system.
Two men in their 50s were arrested on suspicion of murder, but neither were charged with any offences after the Metropolitan Police concluded Edward’s death was non-suspicious.
However, a coroner ruled it was drug-related.
The family of Edward Cornes accused Met Police of extensive misconduct in the handling of their son’s case.
They accused a senior officer of baselessly smearing Edward at his October 2025 inquest by labelling him a drug dealer.
Officers were also accused of taking a homophobic approach to the investigation, in which they allegedly told his parents “with man on man sex anything can happen”.
Speaking to ITV, Edward’s mother Miriam Blythe said: “They treated us appallingly. They had no cause of death and they refused to interview his friends so they had no idea who Ed was.”
She added: “They focused in on him being gay and whether he took drugs. His lifestyle and sexuality,” she added.
Edward spent his final hours in the company of men aged 55 and 57 at the Goodwood Hotel in Tavistock Place.
The pair delayed calling the ambulance while they moved the teenager’s body and put some of his clothes back on.
Both of the men deny any wrongdoing.
Ms Blythe described Edward as the “funniest, sweetest human being I’ve ever known”.
In a statement, a Met spokesperson said: “We apologise for the pain caused to Edward’s family through the handling of our investigation. We acknowledge that aspects of the initial investigation were not handled correctly and did not meet the high standards we expect.
“We have since met with Edward’s family to apologise in person and recognise the distress our actions have caused.
“Specialist officers are now reviewing the original investigation into Edward’s death and surrounding circumstances to determine if there are any possible further lines of enquiry.
"We remain in contact with the family and will continue to keep them updated as our work progresses.
“If you have any information relating to this case, please email us at opthrupp@met.police.uk. Anonymous reports can be submitted to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also launched an investigation into the handling of the case.
A spokesperson for the IOPC previously told The Standard: ““We can confirm the IOPC has started an investigation into a number of complaints about the Met Police regarding its handling of the tragic death of 19-year-old Edward Cornes, who was found dead in a London hotel in October 2021.
“Those complaints include alleged failures in the investigation into Edward’s death, its handling of the subsequent coronial proceedings and inquest, including evidence provided by an officer at the inquest and its communication with Edward’s family throughout.
“His family made several complaints to the Met which voluntarily referred the matters to the IOPC on February 6 and further matters on February 17.
“Our investigation is at an early stage, but we will liaise with Edward’s family to determine the scope and breadth of our investigation, and we will keep them regularly updated as our enquiries progress.”
