Detectives are examining four 'unexplained' deaths at a homeless facility in Cornwall that occurred while a recently convicted murderer resided there. James Desborough, an enthusiast of the serial killer TV show Dexter, has been found guilty of killing three people.
Fresh Inquiries into Fatalities
Devon and Cornwall Police are conducting fresh inquiries into other fatalities. During the time of his offences, Desborough was living at Sandy Lodge Hotel, a premises providing accommodation for those experiencing homelessness or addiction issues.
Officers have confirmed two men and two women died at the site in Newquay, Cornwall, between December 2024 and April 2025. Detective Superintendent Rachel Bentley stated the force 'don't believe there is a link at this time' but the inquiry continues.
Coronial Investigations Paused
Det Supt Bentley revealed there are some 'final reviews to be done'. Officers responded to each of the four fatalities and considered them natural causes. The deaths were referred to the coroner, but inquiries were suspended after Desborough, who was given a whole life order at Winchester Crown Court, was detained.
She said: 'It was quite right that those coronial investigations paused when James Desborough was arrested for murder. That's why the major crime investigation team commenced a review and conducted some further investigation because it was right to pause. Now James had committed a murder, so just to review those circumstances and those final investigation inquiries are ongoing currently.'
No Suspect in Other Deaths
Det Supt Bentley added: 'I said before there's no other information that's come into the investigation that suggests that he's linked to any of the deaths. We don't believe we're looking for any victims, but I do want to stress that the investigations are ongoing.'
'They are going to be reviewed again now the trial has concluded, but at this time we are not looking at any other investigations and at this time he's not a suspect in any other deaths.'
Desborough's Convictions
Desborough was found guilty of murdering 57-year-old Claudio Aquilino and Daniel Coleman, 43, before concealing their remains in Cornwall last year. The former builder is serving a life sentence after strangling his prison cellmate Steven Kempster at HMP Exeter while on remand awaiting trial.
Having taken three lives across just five months, Desborough is now classified as a serial killer. Both of his original victims resided with him at the time of their deaths, and each was last seen alive in Desborough's company.
The remains of both victims were discovered dismembered in Sticker Woods, near St Austell, where Desborough had previously inhabited a wooden cabin. Officers unearthed 1,900 burnt bone fragments belonging to Claudio's body at the site, and later uncovered parts of Daniel's body – including his torso, legs and feet – in a shallow grave nearby.
Desborough told a forensic biologist that he 'particularly enjoyed dismemberment scenes' in the TV series Dexter while they were combing the woodlands for Daniel. The father-of-one, standing approximately 5ft10in and weighing nearly 18st, subsequently squandered his victims' money on drugs and alcohol.
