Thirsk Care Home Victim Named

13 February 2015, 13:20 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A woman accused of murdering an 81-year-old man in a North Yorkshire care home has been remanded in custody, police have said.

Heather Davidson, 53, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates' Court charged with the murder at the Sowerby House care home in Sowerby.

North Yorkshire Police named the victim as David Paterson.

A police spokeswoman said:
``We can now confirm the identity of the 81-year-old victim in the Sowerby House care home murder investigation."

``He has been named as David Paterson, who was resident at the home."

``The woman accused of his murder, Heather Pauline Davidson, 53, of Sowerby, Thirsk, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates' Court today and was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 17 February.''

Officers were called to the privately-owned care home on Wednesday afternoon after the man was found dead in his room.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATED 13th February 2015

A woman has been charged with murder following the death of an 81-year-old man at a care home in Thirsk.

The man was found dead at Sowerby House on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old woman is due to appear at Northallerton Magistrates' Court this morning at 10am.
__________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATED 12th February 2015

A murder investigation is under way at a care home after an elderly resident was found dead there.

A woman arrested on suspicion of murder after the unexplained death of a man in his 80s at a north Yorkshire care home was known to him, police have said.

The suspect, in her 50s, has no known connection to the Sowerby House care home in Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire Police said.

Police said she was an ``associate'' of the resident and detectives are looking into their relationship.

Officers were called to the privately-owned care home at around 3.20pm on Wednesday after the pensioner was found dead in his room.

The Edwardian property, which has a modern side extension, stands in the tree-lined Front Street in the attractive village on the outskirts of Thirsk.

Reporters calling at the door were asked to contact the owners' head office.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said:
``Following an early investigation and forensic assessment, it is suspected that the injuries suffered by the deceased are non-accidental."

``As a result, a woman in her 50s from Thirsk, who has no known connection to the care home, was arrested late on Wednesday evening on suspicion of murder."

``She is currently in police custody for questioning.''

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said:
``We ask that consideration is given to the residents and the families connected to the care home at this time."

``The home has not been closed; however, there are areas within the home which are still being examined."

``Specially trained police family liaison officers have been deployed to support the deceased's family."

``At this moment we are not in a position to release the identity of the deceased.''

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Updated 12th February 2015 11:04am

North Yorkshire Police is investigating the death of the man in his 80s who was a resident at Sowerby House care home in Thirsk.

Officers were called to the care home at around 3.20pm on Wednesday after the man's body was found in his room.

Police have said that an early investigation and forensic assessment suggest that the injuries suffered by the deceased are non-accidental.

As a result, a woman in her 50s from Thirsk, who has no known connection to the care home, was arrested late on Wednesday evening on suspicion of murder.

She is currently in police custody for questioning.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, said:
"We ask that consideration is given to the residents and the families connected to the care home at this time.

The home has not been closed, however, there are areas within the home which are still being examined.

Specially trained police Family Liaison Officers have been deployed to support the deceased's family.

At this moment we are not in a position to release the identity of the deceased."