A woman in a state of isolation and vulnerability was reportedly “abandoned and left” to die by social services, as claimed by her family.
Laura Winham, residing in Woking, UK, was discovered lifeless in her flat in May 2021. Authorities suspect she may have passed away over three years prior to her “mummified” body being found.
The 38-year-old, who was deaf and had schizophrenia, documented what are thought to be her last days in a diary.
An inquest is underway in Surrey, England, to unravel what transpired in the years leading up to her death, resulting in her being cut off from society.
During the inquest earlier this week, a pathologist informed the court that due to the lengthy period the body remained there, it would be impossible to establish her exact time of death.
However, officials did find a calendar with dates crossed off until November 1, 2017.
Her “almost skeletal” remains were uncovered three years and six months later.
This raises the question of why she hadn’t been communicating with her family, who assert that social and mental health services in the UK failed her.
Winham had become distant from her family, with relatives stating she asked them to stop contacting her and severed ties, as she believed they intended to harm her.
Tragically, it was her brother who found her in a “mummified” condition.
On October 3, Coroner Karen Henderson shared poignant passages from Winham’s diary that revealed the grim truth of her final days, characterized by running out of money, food, and time.
In her journal entry on September 15, 2017, she wrote: “Wish I’d bought rice. Dreaming of [food]. Anyway, I’m starving.”
On September 28, 2017, another entry read: “My mobile gave up on 7 September. I got a Tesco run in before it died. I have slept weeks away … I haven’t stocked any food for months because I don’t know what’s happening.”
A third entry from October stated: “It has been a whole month since my last food shop. I cannot believe I have survived this long.”
She frequently mentioned in her diary that she was subsisting on cheese and potatoes, with “about £5 left on me”.
A representative from Surrey County Council told the inquest how the authority has since revised its policies following Winham’s death, ensuring a council employee now follows up on unanswered letters.
A Woking Borough Council member stated that her vulnerabilities should have been reported to the authority’s housing department.
In February 2016, she informed the local authority that she was living solely on her savings and DLA [Disabled Living Allowance] when asked to file a new benefits claim, which included a medical assessment.
The investigation into Winham’s death is ongoing.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.