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Coroner to probe mystery deaths





Police were called to Heather Gardens at 12.30am on Saturday.
Inside they found two elderly people - an 82-year-old man and a woman aged 85 - apparently dead.
Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene but discovered the woman was still alive.
However, she, too, died shortly afterwards.
It is not known how police were alerted to the double tragedy.
Neighbours said the couple were Dr David Arnold, a retired Chieveley osteopath and GP - and his wife, Elizabeth, known as Betty.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “They were a lovely couple but I understand they were in ill health. She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and he had a bad leg.
“It’s such a shock. The first we knew was when we saw blue flashing lights early this morning.”
Police made house to house to house enquiries and Det Chief Insp Gill Wooton said: “The exact cause of death is unknown. .
“The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear but it appears some sort of drug may have been involved.”
The couple are believed to have children and grandchildren living in the Wash Common area.
An inquest on the pair will be opened and adjourned to a later date once the result of post mortem tests, including toxicology results, are known.



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