County Durham Deaths Still Unexplained

12 July 2011, 09:38 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police are investigating the unexplained deaths of a man and woman in County Durham after post-mortem examinations drew a blank.

James McAndrew, 51, and Helen Swan, 36, were discovered in the living room of a terraced house in John Street, Blackhill, Consett, early on Monday.

They were found fully-clothed on a sofa as if they had fallen asleep while watching television.

Relatives reported that the two looked peaceful and that there was no sign of a struggle having taken place.

Toxicology tests, which could take several weeks, are being carried out, a Durham Police spokeswoman said.

She said: ``Post-mortems carried out by a Home Office pathologist have proved inconclusive.

``We are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests which are likely to take several weeks.

``The deaths are still being treated as unexplained at this time.''