Woman ‘overwhelmed’ by loneliness killed herself and disabled daughter, coroner says

A translator who became a full-time carer for her severely disabled eight-year-old daughter killed herself and her child after becoming “overwhelmed” by loneliness, a coroner concluded.Martina Karos, 40, and Eleni Edwards were found dead at their home in Salford, Greater Manchester, after police were called when the girl did not turn up at school on 23 September 2024.Bolton coroner’s court heard how Karos struggled with her mental health after the breakup of a relationship, and caring for her daughter left her feeling socially isolated and lonely.She had told a friend she felt life was not worth living, and at times had become emotionally distant from her daughter, who was blind and had limited mobility.Eleni was put on a child protection plan by social service staff at Salford city council in January 2024, and mother and child had a range of support services, the inquest heard.These included daily visits from carers, social workers, short and medium-term respite care, counselling, talking therapy and psychotherapy.Social workers had also accompanied Karos to social activities to try to get her to make new friendships, but she struggled with such initiatives, the hearing was told.A close friend previously told the Guardian that Karos had struggled to care for Eleni, whom she called Laney, on her own because of her physically small stature and the fact her daughter often needed to be lifted or carried.However, he said social isolation had been the main problem for Karos. “It wasn’t just the taking care of her, it was the fact that when she was alone in the house – it was just her and Laney and she was non-verbal – she was just lonely every night and she had nobody.”He described Karos as a good mother, who had a degree in linguistics and was “very bright”, speaking multiple languages. Karos was born in Poland and raised in Italy, where her family still lived.He said: “I just want people to understand that Martina was a great person and just got stuck in a terrible place.”Peter Sigee, the area coroner for Greater Manchester West, concluding the four-day inquest into the deaths of the mother and daughter, said Karos had killed herself and Eleni was unlawfully killed by her mother.He said: “Ms Karos had deliberately placed herself and her daughter in an environment where they were overcome by the toxic effects of carbon monoxide with the intention and effect of ending both their lives.“Despite a high level of good-quality, focused support and care from family, her limited group of friends and professionals, including GP, specialised mental health services, social workers and carers, Ms Karos experienced feelings of extreme loneliness and isolation which overwhelmed her.“Ms Karos decided to end her life by suicide.”Sigee said Karos denied any thoughts of harming herself or Eleni and there was no “objective basis” to suspect she would do so, adding: “This tragic incident could not reasonably have been foreseen.” In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org