POLICE REVIEW FOUR DEATHS AT SHELTER WHERE CONVICTED KILLER LIVED

Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating four unexplained deaths at Sandy Lodge Hotel, a homeless shelter in Newquay, Cornwall, where James Desborough lived between December 2024 and April 2025. Two men and two women died at the facility during that period. Desborough has been convicted of killing Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, whose bodies he hid in Cornwall. Detective Superintendent Rachel Bentley stated the force "don't believe there is a link at this time" but investigations remain ongoing.

Officers attended each of the four deaths and initially believed they were due to natural causes, after which they were passed to the coroner. These coronial investigations were paused when Desborough was arrested for murder. The major crime investigation team has now commenced a review of the circumstances surrounding the four deaths. Det Supt Bentley explained that pausing the investigations was appropriate given Desborough's arrest and subsequent conviction. She stated: "Now James had committed a murder, so just to review those circumstances and those final investigation inquiries are ongoing currently."

Desborough was also convicted of strangling his prison cellmate Steven Kempster at HMP Exeter whilst on remand awaiting trial. This makes three confirmed killings in separate incidents over five months. Det Supt Bentley confirmed that at present Desborough is not a suspect in connection with the four deaths at the shelter, and officers are not looking for additional victims. She stressed that final reviews are being completed and investigations will be reviewed again now the trial has concluded.