Mother, 27, killed her daughters, 18 months and three, with an overdose of methadone before killing herself because she thought she’d brought them into a corrupt world, inquest hears
- Tiffany Stevens, 27, was found dead next to her two young children in 2019
- Casey-Lea Taylor, 3, and 18-month-old Darcey Stevens were beside Tiffany
- Inquest heard they had all died from an overdose of drugs given by the mother
- For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details
A mother killed herself and her two young daughters with a drug overdose after becoming convinced she’d ‘brought them into a corrupt world’, an inquest heard.
Tiffany Stevens, 27, was found dead next to her children Casey-Lea Taylor, 3, and 18-month-old Darcey Stevens in January 2019.
Bolton Coroners Court today heard the youngsters had drunk ‘massive amounts’ of methadone – a powerful heroin and opioid substitute.
Tiffany had a fatal level of morphine in her system, the inquest heard.
She had injected insulin and methadone, while Tramadol and Pregabalin were also found. None of the drugs had been prescribed to her.
In a heartbreaking suicide note, found at her terraced house in Bolton, Lancs., she wrote: ‘I have chosen to kill us in my children’s best interests.’
Little Darcey was found in a buggy by the front door and Home Office pathologist Dr Phillip Lumb told the court that family had probably been dead for about a week.
Tiffany Stevens, 27, was found dead next to her two young children back in January 2019
Casey-Lea Taylor, 3, and 18-month-old Darcey Stevens were both found beside Tiffany
Police were called to the house after relatives had discovered the tragedy after gaining access
The inquest heard relatives became concerned that they had been unable to contact her for a week and so entered the house through a back door.
In a statement, paramedic Kirsty Ogden told how she found Tiffany and Casey-Lea lying on a mattress on the living room floor underneath a duvet. Both were dead.
Toxicology tests showed that Darcey died from an amount of methadone enough to prove fatal to an adult.
When Casey-Lea was examined she had also been given methadone and had been injected in her abdomen with insulin.
She had injected insulin and methadone, while Tramadol and Pregabalin were also found.
Pathologist Dr Phillip Lumb told the court that family had probably been dead for a week
Tramadol, and morphine were also found and Dr Lumb concluded she died from drug toxicity.
In response to a question from Tiffany’s mum, Bobby-Jo Stevens, Dr Lumb stated the drugs Ms Stevens and the girls had taken would have rendered them unconscious before death.
He said: ‘I don’t think there would be any pain or suffering.’
The family were found at their house in Arthur Street, Bolton, on January 21, 2019.
The inquest continues.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.
Advertisement
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel
Source link