James Desborough: Police probing deaths of four people who lived at same homeless lodge as serial killer

Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating 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 Old Oak Woods, lower Sticker.

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.

Desborough told a forensic biologist who was searching the woods for Mr Coleman’s body that he “particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” in the TV series Dexter, which follows a vigilante serial killer who works by day as a blood spatter analyst.

Police found several handwritten notes inside Desborough’s cabin, including one headed: “Bug out list” and another: “Hostiles”.

Among the notes were one which said: “I know I am a killer and ready to execute any predators”.

Another said: “Take care of the remaining muppets,” with Mr Coleman’s name listed.

Ms Bentley said the police had attended each of the deaths of the four other people who died, and inquiries suggested natural causes.

Jurisdiction had been passed to the Cornwall Coroner.

“It was quite right that those coronial investigations paused when James Desborough was arrested for murder,” she said.

“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.

“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.”

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