James Desborough was earlier found guilty of murdering two homeless men and his prison cellmate
Devon and Cornwall Police are continuing inquiries into the deaths of four people who were living in homeless accommodation at the same time as serial killer James Desborough.
Desborough, 40, is to be sentenced on Wednesday for murdering Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, in Cornwall in 2025.
The two homeless men’s bodies were found dismembered and hidden in woodland.
Desborough, a former builder, is already serving a life sentence after he strangled his prison cellmate, Steven Kempster, 65, at HMP Exeter while on remand awaiting trial.
The triple murderer is now classed as a serial killer, having killed three men in separate incidents over five months.
Desborough, 40, lived at Sandy Lodge Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, which was accommodation for people suffering with homelessness or addictions, between December 2024 and April 2025, during which time two men and two women died unexpectedly.
“As a major crime investigation team we were informed by the coroner’s officer for His Majesty’s Coroner that there were four deaths at Sandy Lodge,” Detective Superintendent Rachael Bentley, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said.
“As part of the investigation, a detective inspector, separate to the investigation but within major crime, did a review of those deaths, and that included commissioning some more forensic work, some CCTV, and statements.
“There are still some inquiries outstanding on those.“
They remain as unexpected deaths, but there are still some inquiries outstanding. He’s not a suspect at this time.
“We’re in conversation with His Majesty’s Coroner, but they were reviewed as part of the investigation.”
The jury in Desborough’s double murder trial heard that Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman had previously lived with Desborough at a homeless hostel, and the last time they were both seen alive was in his company.
After their disappearances, Desborough went on to spend their money on drugs and alcohol.
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