Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find upsetting.
The remains of a ‘beautiful and talented’ young woman were discovered over a year after she is believed to have passed away.
Charlotte Leader, from Greater Manchester in the UK, was found deceased under her duvet on August 5, 2025, when police arrived at her Bolton apartment for a welfare check.
During the inquest into her death, it was revealed that the 23-year-old had distanced herself from her family and loved ones long before her death, communicating primarily with OpenAI’s AI bot, ChatGPT.
Her last interaction with the chatbot, dated July 30, 2024, provided authorities with a rough timeline for her passing. Dr. Andrew Coates, a pathologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, reported her remains were challenging to examine due to her ‘mummified’ condition.
Charlotte’s mother, Chantay Simm, stated she had not been in touch with her daughter since September 2021, making the family’s attempts to locate Charlotte ‘impossible.’
Neighbors reported rarely seeing her leave the apartment.
Assistant Coroner Stephen Teasdale informed the court that Charlotte had a long history of struggling with mental health issues.
“In time, she becomes a stranger from the family, she pushes people away, and she disengages from the mental health services as well,” he explained, noting she had declined a mental health appointment in 2022 and ceased further engagements with such services.
Mr. Teasdale also mentioned there were ‘no illicit drugs’ present or nearby, and her personal diaries lacked any indication of such a problem.
Caroline Calow testified about her sister’s long-standing battles with various eating disorders, including bulimia.
Calow further observed that the flat lacked ‘medication’ and appeared to belong to ‘someone who cares’ as opposed to ‘the flat of someone who had given up.’
Detective Inspector Paul Quinn described her apartment as ‘sparsely furnished’ but ‘immaculately clean,’ except for the ‘large volume of letters’ near the entrance and expired food dating back to July 2024.
He noted there was ‘no indication she intended to take her life, or anything to suggest she would act untoward.’
DI Quinn further reported that Charlotte’s only communications were with ChatGPT, with her last message reading: “Help me, I’ve went and got food again.”
The AI replied: “You sound conflicted about having food,” to which Charlotte responded: “It’s food that I didn’t want and that’s frustrating.”
Quinn continued, “There were others all in the same context – there’s no conversations with anybody, her only contact was with ChatGPT.”
Dr. Coates stated it was not ‘unreasonable’ for her body to be so decomposed over a year under the duvet. Mr. Teasdale concluded the inquest with an open verdict, citing insufficient evidence to determine a cause of death.
Charlotte’s grieving family paid tribute to her, describing her as a ‘very beautiful and talented young woman.’
“Her many talents were playing the guitar and keyboard and she also had a love for art. She was loved tremendously by the family and will be missed every day,” they shared.
If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article and wish to talk to someone, contact National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Their free hotline is available at 1(888)-375-7767, Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, assistance is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 for a 24-hour crisis center or engage in a webchat at 988lifeline.org. Alternatively, reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.