A MUM killed her disabled eight-year-old child and then took her own life, a coroner’s court has heard.
Martina Karos, 40, killed her blind, non-verbal daughter and herself in their home with toxic carbon monoxide.
Martina Karos and her eight-year-old daughter Eleni Edwards were tragically found deadCredit: MEN Media
Police were alerted after Eleni didn’t show up to schoolCredit: MEN Media
Emergency services raced to their home in Kersal, after reports that Eleni Edwards, 8, hadn’t gone to school.
After paramedics forced entry into the house they made the tragic discovery of Eleni and Martina’s bodies in the same bedroom.
They were declared dead at the scene on September 24, 2024.
Pathologists later ruled that the pair died due to “carbon monoxide toxicity”.
Bolton Coroners heard this week how Martini died by suicide and her daughter was unlawfully killed.
Area coroner Peter Sigee ruled today that: “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.
“Ms Karos was the sole parental carer for her eight-year-old daughter, who had profound physical and mental disabilities, which had become apparent within months of her birth.
“Her daughter was a happy child who was very much loved and very well cared for by Ms Karos throughout her life.
“Despite a high level of good quality, focused support and care from family, her limited group of friends and professionals (including , specialist mental services, social workers and carers)
“Ms Karos experienced feelings of extreme loneliness and isolation which overwhelmed her.”
Mr Segee added that he would not be making a prevention of deaths report.
He explained that he could not identify any failings in the care and support Martina and her daughter received.
“Ms Karos decided to end her life by suicide,” Mr Sigee’s concluded.
He continued: “She was concerned as to the care and support that her daughter would receive after her death and so decided to end her daughter’s life at the same time as her own.
“Ms Karos had continuously denied any thoughts of harming herself or her daughter in the period prior to her death, there was no objective basis to suspect that Ms Karos was contemplating/at increased risk of acting as she did at this time and this tragic incident could not reasonably have been foreseen.”
At just a few months old, Eleni was diagnosed with several conditions which left her “severely disabled”.
The young girl was blind, non-verbal and had severely restricted mobility. Her mum, a linguist and translator, was her full-time carer, the inquest heard.
Martina was born in and moved to the UK from in 2003.
Paramedics said that Martina and Eleni were found dead at the sceneCredit: MEN Media
Pathologists concluded that the pair died from ‘carbon monoxide toxicity’Credit: MEN Media
She had previously been treated for symptoms of anxiety and over several years and been prescribed anti-depressants.
Martina said her caring duties caused her to feel “socially isolated” and “lonely”, the inquest heard.
Her loved ones said her declined rapidly at the end of 2023 and she started expressing suicidal thoughts.
Eleni was then put under a child protection plan in January 2024 due to a perceived risk of “emotional harm” from the “unintended impacts” of her mum’s low moods.
The young girl was still under the plan at the time of her death and she was meant to have a later that day.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
Martina’s mental health was thought to have improved by the of 2024 and her GP said she was “stable” and that she had denied any suicidal thoughts.
None of the professionals involved with the family reported any immediate concerns about the pair near the time of the murder-suicide.
Representatives argued that the professionals had not “caused or contributed” to their tragic deaths.
Flowers left outside the property where Martina Karos and her daughter Eleni Edwards were foundCredit: MEN Media
The court heard how Martina had previously expressed suicidal thoughtsCredit: MEN Media
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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