Police remain "suspicious" about the deaths of some of care home killer Rachel Baker's former residents in the wake of her conviction today for manslaughter.
Baker, 44, who stole medication from elderly patients to feed her own addiction to Class A drugs, was found guilty on Friday of the manslaughter of Lucy Cox, 97.
She was cleared of the manslaughter of Frances Hay, 85, another resident at the Parkfields Residential Care Home, in Butleigh, Somerset.
Baker, of Boundary Way, Glastonbury, was cleared on Thursday of murdering both the women, and had earlier admitted 10 counts of possessing class A and C drugs, and one of perverting the course of justice. The jury heard Baker may have wanted to "control the terminal destiny of some of her residents", although in her evidence she insisted that her drug-taking never jeopardised their safety.
After the case Detective Superintendent Trevor Simpson, who led the case for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "I'm suspicious about some of the deaths at the home during that time - it doesn't change the situation.
He explained that "causation" would always be an issue in a case that involved such elderly people.
"The causation issues were present throughout the investigation, and throughout the trial and they remain the case."
Mr Simpson added that, were it not for the two whistleblowers at the home, Kathy Slade and Sarah Barnett, more tragedies could have occurred apart from that of Mrs Cox in 1997.
He said: "I fear that had they not complained about Mrs Baker's suspicious behaviour further residents may have died prematurely. The carers are to be commended for taking this brave stance against their employer."
He said the investigation was now closed, adding: "We've explored all the evidence we possibly can."
