A coroner has ruled that a Harrogate man died as a result of drugs rather than a head injury, as police first believed.
Aaron Atkinson, 38, who was homeless at the time of his death, was found at a flat at Park House Green on May 7 last year.
North Yorkshire Police arrested two men, aged 46 and 40 at the time, on suspicion of murder and robbery shortly after the incident.
However, the force has now dropped its suspicions of murder.
It told the Stray Ferret today that one of the two suspects remains under investigation for assault and robbery. The other is still under investigation for robbery and theft.
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Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said at an inquest in Northallerton today:
“It is clear from the reports I have seen that Aaron Atkinson had a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
“Mr Atkinson was found unresponsive at a flat on Park House Green at 3am. The post-mortem found that he had taken heroin, cocaine, alcohol and anti-depressants.
“I have found the cause of death to be drugs-related.”
A mother’s tribute
Christine Bloomfield, Mr Atkinson’s mother, was at the inquest and told the Stray Ferret about her son’s life:
Police name victim of suspected murder in Harrogate“People should remember Aaron for his heart of gold and his smile. He was a loving brother and son.
“He just got on the wrong path and went through a lot of heartache. Aaron recently lost his nan, dad and wife.
“My son was getting back on track. I saw him before he died in March and he had cleaned himself up.
“When we go through a life with a lot of sadness we all go in search for something to comfort us. With him it was drugs and alcohol.
“But he started to realise that he needed to make some changes. I believed him, he was doing well and I was proud of him. Then this happened.”
Police have named a man found dead in Harrogate this week as Aaron Atkinson.
The 38-year-old’s body was discovered at a property in Harrogate in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Two men, aged 46 and 40, arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery, have now been released on bail.
North Yorkshire Police said investigations into the death are continuing and further forensic tests are being carried out, but detectives are treating it as suspected murder. Officers have reassure the public that it was an isolated incident.