A British nurse who was awaiting trial accused of murdering three elderly patients has been found dead and police have said it is possible she could be responsible for other deaths.
Anne Grigg-Booth, 52, was found dead at her home in Nelson, Lancashire yesterday. Her death is not thought to be suspicious.
She was charged last year with murdering three patients, aged 96, 75 and 67 at Airedale General Hospital near Keighley in West Yorkshire using diamorphine.
She was also accused of the attempted murder pf a 42-year-old man and 13 counts of administering noxious substances to other patients. She always maintained her innocence.
Detectives investigating the case said today it was possible she might have been a suspect in other deaths.
"She could have. We will never know," Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgewick of West Yorkshire police said.
"We looked at a lot of deaths at the hospital and picked up a number of suspicious cases. We eventually concentrated on between 15 and 20 cases and brought experts in to look at these."
Amy Newman, the sister of one of Grigg-Booth's alleged victims, said she would never know the truth of what had happened.
"I would have just liked to know why she did it. Now I will never find out," the BBC quoted her as saying.