LIVE: Murder ruled out as investigation continues into death of Nathan Haigh in Rochdale
Greater Manchester Police has ruled out murder as a line of enquiry into the death of 31-year-old Nathan Haigh at Great Howarth, while enquiries into the circumstances continue.
BREAKING NEWS — LIVE
00:56, 21 August 2026 — Greater Manchester Police has ruled out murder as a line of enquiry into the death of 31-year-old Nathan Haigh at Great Howarth in Rochdale. Police say the investigation into the circumstances of his sudden death remains ongoing while the full results of the post-mortem examination are awaited.
The 37-year-old woman who was originally arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail in relation to an assault investigation. An arrest or release on bail is not a finding of guilt, and no inference of guilt should be drawn.
Detective Inspector Georgina Fearn, of Rochdale CID, said specialist officers continue to support Nathan's family. Police said their enquiries had established that murder was no longer being treated as a line of enquiry and reiterated that they do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.
Nathan Haigh, 31, was found unresponsive inside an address on Great Howarth after emergency services were called at around 7.39pm on Tuesday 11 August. CPR was commenced, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Police initially described the circumstances as suspicious and arrested a 37-year-old woman on suspicion of murder while several lines of enquiry were explored. The subsequent decision to rule out murder represents a substantive change in the status of the investigation.
Rochdale Daily will continue to update this live report when further verified information is released by Greater Manchester Police or other authoritative sources.
Sources
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No finding of guilt should be inferred from an arrest, allegation or charge. Anyone accused is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
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