A young couple both found dead at home died of separate natural causes in a rare and tragic coincidence.
A major crime investigation was launched after the bodies of Aleasha Sullivan, 32, and Joshua Sandercock, 30, were discovered at her flat in south Devon on October 21, 2021.
Following the results of a post-mortem examination, the extensive investigation concluded there was no evidence to suggest any connection between the two deaths, despite them both being found at the same time and in the same place. Aleasha also had a domestic violence protection order against Joshua after he was charged with alleged assault against her.
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Police were called to Aleasha's home following a welfare concern raised by her support worker after being notified that she had not been seen or heard from since October 12. She was formally reported missing to police on October 21.
Officers attended her home that morning and when they received no response they saw through the letterbox a body against the door. After breaking in it was found to be Aleasha who had been dead for several days.
While searching the maisonette, police discovered the body of Joshua in the living room upstairs, Devon Live reports.
An inquest at Plymouth Coroners Court today, April 20, heard police initially treated it as a potential crime scene until medical examinations of their bodies revealed they had both died of natural causes completely independently of each other. Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Deborah Cook concluded Aleasha had died of pulmonary thromboembolism - a blood clot in her lungs.
It was noted needle marks had been found on her body and that toxicology tests confirmed she had taken heroin sometime prior to her death but the level detected at the time of the post-mortem examination was not associated with fatalities.
Dr Cook added there had been no signs of any trauma to her body 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."
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 a court order preventing him from having any contact with her or visiting her home, it was said by the coroner that they appeared to have maintained "some degree" of contact.
Aleasha's 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."
Evidence was also heard from police staff investigator Paul Cashman who told the inquest the case was a set of "very unusual circumstances". He confirmed police had been unable to establish when she had died, other than the last confirmed sightings of Aleasha being on October 12 when she went to collect her methadone prescription, an opiate substitute, from the pharmacy.
However, she failed to collect her next prescription on October 15. Neighbours also confirmed they had not seen her or heard any noise from within her home since October 12.
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."
An inquest was held separately this afternoon, April 20, into the death of Joshua following Aleasha's. He was found passed away lying on his back on the sofa in Aleasha's living room.
His cause of death was confirmed as pneumonia. Toxicology tests showed he had taken methadone, which he had not been prescribed, in the hours before his death. The amount consumed was said to not generally be associated with fatalities depending on an individual's tolerance to it, and cannabis was also detected.
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.” She added she was unable to say whether he had died before Aleasha, but that no physical injuries were found that could have contributed to his death.
Medical records revealed Joshua had a history of asthma, alcohol abuse, substance misuse including cocaine and cannabis, and mental health struggles. He had previously suffered overdoses related to his drug taking.
His limited contact with mental health services stated he had impulsive personality instability issues but did not seek treatment for it.
In a statement, Joshua's stepmother said: "[He and Aleasha] seemed very happy together although it was a volatile relationship on both sides."
She recalled she had spoken to him on the 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".
When they last spoke on the phone on October 8, she said he had not sounded 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 said she was very well known in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area and "made friends with everyone". They added that Aleasha was "loved by many" and was a "funny, caring, selfless soul".
Her family launched a GoFundMe page which raised almost £3,000 so far towards the cost of her funeral.
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