Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead earlier this year (Picture: East Anglia News Service)

A man has been charged with the murder of a millionaire couple in Essex.

Stephen and Carol Baxter, who were joint directors of bath and shower mat firm Cazsplash, were found dead on Mersea Island, near Colchester, on April 9.

At that stage, their deaths were being treated as unexpected and not suspicious and officers were working to establish the circumstances around their deaths.

But as a result of toxicology analysis led to further investigations.

Luke D’Wit, 33, of Churchfields, West Mersea, Colchester, has now been charged with two counts of murder, one count of possession of a Class A drug, and one count of theft.

He will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Essex Police said.

Det Insp Lydia George, said: ‘This is a significant development in our investigation as we piece together the circumstances around the deaths of Carol and Stephen.’

A woman and a man have been released on bail, Essex Police added.

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Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead on Mersea Island, near Colchester, on April 9.