An investigation into the tragic demise of a woman and her disabled eight-year-old daughter revealed that the mother took the life of her child before ending her own. Emergency services discovered the bodies of Martina Karos, 40, and Eleni Edwards at their residence in Kersal, Salford, on September 23, 2024, after authorities were notified when Eleni did not attend school. The inquests for both Martina and Eleni were conducted concurrently at Bolton Coroner’s Court.
Following a three-day inquiry, coroner Peter Sigee concluded that Ms. Karos committed suicide and that Eleni was unlawfully killed. According to Manchester Evening News, Mr. Sigee stated, “Ms. Karos intentionally exposed herself and her daughter to carbon monoxide poisoning to end their lives.” Despite receiving substantial support from family, friends, and professionals, Ms. Karos felt extremely isolated, leading to the tragic incident.
The coroner found no negligence in the care provided to Ms. Karos and her daughter, ruling out any contributing factors to their deaths. Mr. Sigee’s report revealed that Ms. Karos, who was the primary caregiver for her daughter with severe disabilities, had shown signs of anxiety and depression and had been under treatment for several years. Despite showing improvement in her mental health earlier in 2024, she made the fateful decision to end her and her daughter’s lives.
Eleni, who had been diagnosed with multiple severe disabilities at a young age, was blind, non-verbal, and had limited mobility, requiring full-time care from Martina. Martina’s mental health deteriorated towards the end of 2023, leading to suicidal thoughts and concerns about her daughter’s future care. Despite positive progress in her mental health by mid-2024, the tragic event occurred, with professionals expressing no immediate worries before the incident.