RACHEL Whitear's mother and stepfather have always suspected a third person was involved in their daughter's death.

Rachel certainly died in a bedsit at 4 Pound Street, Exmouth, on May 10, 2000, but mystery surrounds the hours between the final sighting of her and the discovery of her body.

During the hearing, the Holcrofts pointed out that the door to her bedroom was ajar, arguing that Rachel would not inject herself if the door was open. There was a neatly-folded towel over the door, preventing it from closing, while the capped syringe in Rachel's right hand led the Holcrofts to believe foul play was afoot.

Last Wednesday, a statement from West Country paramedic Guy Wheatley, which was read to the inquest, said the syringe was held in odd manner, while former West Mercia policeman and family friend Leslie Wilkinson also voiced concerns.

"I was never happy with the way in which Rachel held the syringe, and I said all this six years ago," said Mr Wilkinson.

"They (Devon and Cornwall Police) seemed more interested in finding out where Rachel obtained the drug than interviewing people."

But according to a married Exmouth couple who both supplied statements, Rachel's new landlord, Darren Tynan, may have heard footsteps from Rachel's bedsit on the evening of her death.

Neil and Sheila Collins both told the inquest that a "distressed" Mr Tynan visited their house during the evening, after discovering Rachel's body.

Both statements from the Collins' said that Mr Tynan had heard someone leave the house during the evening, but he did not report this because he was high.

"He told us that he heard someone come down the stairs and leave the house," said Coroner Ian Arrow, reading Neil's statement.

"He could not remember when he heard this person leave because he was stoned. Yet we didn't want to tell the police, because they were treating it as a drug overdose."