Woman released without charge after unexplained care home deaths

A 60-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people died at a care home has been released without charge. Three people died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage on Wednesday, October 23.

Dorset Police said the investigation into the deaths of the two men, aged 74 and 91, and an 86-year-old woman was ongoing and the deaths were still being treated as "unexplained".

Police were called to the care home at 7.16am after three people were reported to have died. Dorset Police has since said that carbon monoxide poisoning was being investigated as a possible cause.

At the time, seven people were taken to hospital as a precaution and other residents of the address were evacuated to a location where they could receive appropriate care.

An investigation into the deaths is being conducted by the Major Crime Investigation Team. Initially, a 60-year-old local woman was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. She has now been released from the investigation without charge.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “The deceased and their loved ones remain at the forefront of our minds throughout our investigation.

“Over recent weeks we have been continuing to gather as much information as we can, working with HM Coroner, to establish a cause of death.

“To enable us to take a full account and recover any available evidence, while providing legal protection to the person, we made an arrest as part of our enquiries. The arrest was also made to establish where there were any actions or omissions by that individual that were believed to be grossly negligent and we have now reached a position where we do not believe that to be the case.

“Our investigation is very much still ongoing and we are awaiting results from detailed forensic submissions and analysis to assist us in establishing the causes of the deaths, which may take several months.

“The families of the residents who sadly died are being kept informed with any updates in the investigation.”