Tragic Twist: Arson Suspect Found Dead in Wheelie Bin
A shocking inquest revelation: Paul Smith, 40, suspected of an arson attack that tragically claimed the lives of an elderly couple in St Helens, was discovered dead a week later—found in a wheelie bin. Smith, known as “Smigger,” was identified from a body placed there posthumously after an overdose in a bath.
Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, were rescued from the blaze but sadly succumbed to their injuries in hospital. The investigation revealed that Smith’s toxicology report showed a lethal mix of heroin and cocaine.
Authorities were alerted on July 22, revealing Smith was last heard from on July 19, later reported missing by his family. The coroner’s findings suggested respiratory failure from drug use as the cause of death, with no criminal intent detected in Smith’s passing.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings for dumping Smith’s body are ongoing. Earlier this year, three culprits were sentenced for the manslaughter linked to the arson attack. Kevin Weetman, the mastermind, received life imprisonment, while accomplices Kylie Maynard and Lee Owens also received substantial sentences.
This case sheds a somber light on the dark world of drugs and crime in Merseyside.