There was “no indication” to associates, household and colleagues that a military gunner had suicidal ideas or meant to take her personal life, an inquest has heard.
Sophie Madden, a 23-year-old mother-of-one initially from Wigan in Lancashire, was discovered lifeless within the bathe block of the Saint Martin’s Plain Military Coaching Centre in Folkestone, Kent, on June 10 2022.
She was a gunner within the third Regiment Royal Horse Artillery of the British Military and had been on an evening out with associates and colleagues the night earlier than her demise, visiting a variety of Folkestone pubs and enjoying pool within the bar on the barracks earlier than heading to mattress at round 1am on June 10.
Ms Madden was seen heading in direction of the bathe block shortly after, however this was thought-about regular as she usually showered earlier than mattress.
The subsequent morning at round 9.30am a colleague went to the bathe block and noticed Ms Madden’s belongings on a bench outdoors her most popular cubicle. She regarded below the door and noticed Ms Madden’s legs, which raised the alarm, and as soon as the cubicle door was opened it was discovered Ms Madden had hanged herself.
A police investigation summed up in a report by Detective Sergeant Andrew West of Kent Police discovered there have been no indicators of third get together involvement or legal exercise.
The inquest heard there isn't any proof she was anticipating anybody to return in to the bathe block and didn't inform anybody she was feeling in any approach suicidal, or made anybody conscious of any points when she went in.
There is no such thing as a proof she was anticipating anybody to return in and did not inform anybody she was feeling in any approach suicidal, or made anybody conscious of any points when she went in.Coroner Katrina Hepburn
A toxicology report discovered she had 173mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in her system, greater than double the drink-drive restrict, however associates who went out along with her the evening earlier than mentioned she had drunk lower than she often would.
Ms Madden had no ongoing bodily well being points, in keeping with her GP, and he or she was not identified to native psychological well being providers.
She had been positioned on a “vulnerability register” by the Military in 2020 after she was seen hitting her head in opposition to a wall after ingesting alcohol, however after two years of commentary and weekly check-ups she was faraway from the checklist in 2022.
Colleagues mentioned there have been rumours Ms Madden had self-harmed and had a “troublesome upbringing”, and in 2020 she was the sufferer of an alleged assault by the daddy of her son Jayden – nevertheless she declined to assist a prosecution.
Considered one of Ms Madden’s 4 sisters, Chantelle, spoke to her simply hours earlier than she took her personal life and in her police assertion mentioned the information of Sophie’s demise was a “whole shock” and that Ms Madden was “so effectively liked”.
She mentioned Ms Madden had claimed she was careworn that her telephone was damaged and he or she didn't have the cash to repair it, and likewise that she was going through a invoice for damages attributable to her pet canine at her earlier Military lodging.
In a press release, her sister mentioned: “Sophie was a powerful, impartial girl, and didn’t have a tendency to fret about issues. I informed her I’d ship her some cash and a spare telephone the subsequent day, however I didn’t have any issues for her security or psychological well being.”
There was no be aware or any proof to recommend premeditation, however coroner Katrina Hepburn returned a verdict of suicide on the inquest held in County Corridor, Maidstone on Monday.
The coroner defined: “I’m glad it was Sophie who did the act … and there's no proof of anybody else being concerned.
“I've to contemplate whether or not Sophie meant to take her personal life or if it was a cry for assist. There is no such thing as a proof she was anticipating anybody to return in and didn’t inform anybody she was feeling in any approach suicidal, or made anybody conscious of any points when she went in.
“I'm glad she did in truth intend to take her personal life, and glad all different situations have been dominated out. Due to this fact a conclusion of suicide is required on the steadiness of likelihood.”