‘No evidence’ exhumed heroin addict was murdered

THE police officer leading the new inquiry into the death of Rachel Whitear said today that the preliminary results of a post-mortem showed she had not died of a disease or “physical trauma”.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett said it was still possible the 21-year-old heroin addict may have suffered a drugs-related death before her body was discovered in her Exmouth, Devon bedsit in May, 2000.

The officer released the findings of the day Ms Whitear’s remains were exhumed from her grave in Withington, Herefordshire, as part of a fresh inquiry into her death four years ago.