Couple found dead in same home on same day died from different natural causes

A British couple have been found dead in the same house on the same day - but from different natural causes.

Aleasha Sullivan, 32, and Joshua Sandercock, 30, were both found dead on the same day at their home in Holcombe, Devon, on 21 October 2021.

The police were called after a support worker raised concerns over not seeing or hearing from Aleasha since 12 October, 2021.

After a week, the police reported her missing, but when the officers visited her house that morning, she was found dead.

The police officer got no response when they knocked on the door, but as they peered through the letterbox, they saw a body against the door.

Upon entering the premises, the body was found to be Aleasha's, who had been dead for several days.

Facebook/Aleasha Sullivan

While searching through the house, police then came across Joshua's body in the maisonette in the living room upstairs.

Following the results of a post-mortem examination, no extensive evidence was concluded that would suggest any connection between the two deaths.

However, Dr Deborah Cook - Home Office forensic pathologist - confirmed that Aleasha had died of pulmonary thromboembolism - a blood clot in her lungs.

Needle marks had also been found on her body, with body toxicology tests concluding that she had taken heroin before her passing.

Dr Cook also indicated that there had been no signs of trauma or physical assault, or sign that she'd fallen down the stairs.

An individual examination on Thursday (April 20) found that Joshua had taken methadone, which he had not been prescribed just hours before his death.

He said: "The methadone may have tipped the balance in a man suffering pneumonia to result in a respiratory compromise that resulted in death."

On Thursday (20 April), an inquest at Plymouth Coroners Court heard that the police initially treated the couple's deaths as a potential crime scene.

It has been known that Aleasha's medical records revealed that she had a history of 'drug dependency, mental health problems and clotting problems' in her legs - which could get worse with 'intravenous drug use'.

Aleasha's prescribed doctor at Together Drug and Alcohol Services admitted: "She was a very traumatised person but I had genuine hope for her and thought she was heading in a better direction."

Whereas, her support worker claimed that it was 'out of character' for her not to be in contact with her support services.

She said: "In the last meeting she was very much focused on the future and a fresh start.

"She wore her heart on her sleeve and was just full of character."

Joshua's medical records revealed that he had a history of asthma, alcohol abuse, substance misuse including cocaine and cannabis, and mental health struggles.