Young couple found dead at home together in 'very rare coincidence'

A young couple who were found dead at home together both died of different natural causes, an inquest heard.

The bodies of Aleasha Sullivan, 32, and Joshua Sandercock, 30, were discovered at her flat in Holcombe in Devon on October 21, 2021, Devon Live reports. A major police probe was launched and post-mortem examinations were carried out on both bodies.

Following extensive investigations, a conclusion was reached that there was no connection between the two deaths - despite both bodies being found at the same time and in the same place. It was 'entirely coincidental' that they had died together, an inquest was told.

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The hearing at Plymouth Coroners' Court yesterday (April 20) heard how Aleasha - described as a 'funny, caring, selfless soul' - had a domestic violence protection order against Joshua after he was charged with alleged assault against her. Police were called to her 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 then discovered the body of Joshua in the living room upstairs, also deceased.

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 that