HEROIN DEATH GIRL'S PARENTS SET FOR BODY TO BE EXHUMED

The parents of Rachel Whitear, whose dead body was found kneeling with a
syringe in its hand, are preparing themselves for the prospect of having
her body exhumed.

Pauline and Michael Holcroft, from Ledbury, Herefordshire, spoke of their
latest heartbreak after a third police investigation was launched into
Whitear's death.

Photos of the 21-year-old were used in Rachel's Story, an anti-drugs video
for schools, released last year. The video shows how an intelligent young
woman from a good family, with a place at university, died a drug addict in
a bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000.

But it has since emerged that Whitear might not have died of an overdose.
There are disturbing questions surrounding her death -- and the possibility
of someone else being involved.

Michael Holcroft said: 'We have not been asked about an exhumation, but if
we were asked and there was a very good reason why they wanted to do that
then ... I think we would definitely have to say yes.'

Pauline Holcroft added: ' It is not a decision we could take lightly. My
husband and I are trying to be strong but not all the members of the family
find it so easy. But we would all like to know the truth.

'I know a Home Office pathologist has said that if Rachel was exhumed even
now, they would be able to find out the levels of heroin in her body, and
if it was a fatal dose.'

At the inquest into Whitear's death, coroner Richard van Oppen concluded he
was 'certain' she did not die of an overdose. Toxicology results showed
there was not enough heroin in her blood to kill her, and he recorded an
open verdict.

Questions have also been raised over the police investigation into her
death. Her flat was not fingerprinted until two weeks after she died, the
family believe, because police regarded her death as just another drug
overdose. There were also question marks over the role of Whitear's on-off
boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald. She had left him the day before.

D espite years of decomposition, pathologists would still be able to
establish levels of heroin in Whitear's body. Substances ingested before
death would be present in the corpse's hair, which does not decay as
quickly as flesh.

Pauline, who has three other grown-up children, added: 'We don't think
Rachel's death was investigated properly by Devon and Cornwall Police.

'I have never used the word 'murdered', but there is the possibility she
was not alone when she died. There are still a lot of questions to be answered.

'After she was found, did the police do a proper investigation or did they
just think it was another overdose? Why was there no post-mortem? Only two
years down the line are we now dealing with this. We now feel capable of
asking these questions. '

The second investigation, which brought no new information to light, was
headed by a junior police officer, but Assistant Chief Constable Steve
Pearce of Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed a detective chief
superintendent would lead the new inquiry.