A coroner has ruled that three sisters who drowned off Brighton beach in May died by suicide.
Senior coroner Penelope Schofield concluded Thursday that Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walter, 32, and Rebecca Walter, 31, entered the sea near Madeira Drive in the early hours of May 13 knowing they could not swim and that conditions were dangerous. The inquest heard the women, who lived together in Greenford, west London, had made a pilgrimage to Birmingham the night before their deaths.
At 11:36 p.m. On May 11, the sisters arrived at Linton Walk in Birmingham, near Brookvale Park Lake, where their mother Janice Adetoro had died in 2010. They remained there until 1:28 a.m. On May 12, when they were picked up to return to their shared flat. That evening, they took a pre-booked taxi to Brighton, arriving near the seafront at 10:21 p.m.
CCTV captured them on the beach at 2:42 a.m. On May 13, the last time they were seen alive. Hours later, an RNLI crew brought Ms. Adetoro to shore and declared her dead at the scene. Christina Walter was recovered from the sea by a lifeboat, while Rebecca Walter was washed onto the shore. Paramedics pronounced all three dead that morning as emergency crews closed the entire beach for investigations.
Sussex Police reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and made inquiries to establishments around the beach area in the aftermath. The force stated there was no evidence of criminality or that anyone else was involved.
“Our priority throughout has been uncovering the truth for the loved ones of Jane, Rebecca and Christina, because at this incident’s core there has always been a grieving family coming to terms with an unthinkable tragedy and loss,” Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said in a statement.
He added: “Jane, Rebecca and Christina’s tragic deaths sparked a national outpouring of grief, and I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigation by coming forward with information.”
The sisters’ father, Joseph, had earlier issued a tribute in which he said their “lives ended tragically far too soon” and that they would be “forever loved, forever missed and forever remembered.”
Schofield told the court on Thursday: “On May 13, in hours of darkness, they entered the sea at Brighton, they could not swim and sea conditions were adverse.” She concluded the medical cause of death for all three was drowning and formally ruled they died by suicide.
Before the inquest conclusion, Sussex Police had said in a statement: “Based on all of the evidence currently available, our investigation has concluded that all three entered the water near to where their bodies were found, and sadly died.” The force had previously emphasized there was “no evidence” the women came to harm by any individuals.
The deaths prompted widespread public mourning when they occurred, with the police investigation drawing national attention as detectives worked to establish the full circumstances.