A mum-of-two who had been battling health and mobility issues was sadly found passed away at home after having not been seen for around a month. Concerns for 45-year-old Jemma Hart were reported to police after she had not been seen walking her dogs, an inquest heard.
She also failed to open a text message and one of her dogs was heard whimpering from inside her house in Swindon. After entry was gained into her property on January 29, 2024, she was found lifeless in the living room.
Police also found one of Gemma’s two dachshund dogs passed away, reported the Mirror. The other was said to have been in a “distressed condition”.
A post-mortem report confirmed Jemma died from suicide. She also had injuries on her body caused by her dogs after she died.
According to her son, she’d often be seen walking her beloved pets – who were described as being “her life”. Speaking at the inquest, he said: “She’d had dogs in the past but in 2022 she got a dachshund called Frankie and a year later she got another one called Millie. The dogs were her life.”
Jemma was said to have experienced several health and mobility issues which caused her to stop working and she struggled with physical pain and insomnia. She had lived in the property where she was found for 10 years.
A police investigation confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. Jemma had been known to Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health team, though had not had contact with them for many years.
Coroner Ian Singleton told the inquest: “On January 29, Wiltshire Police was contacted by Jemma’s neighbours with concerns that they hadn’t seen her since Christmas. Officers went to her home and found her deceased in the living room.
“One of her dogs was also found dead at the scene and the other was in a distressed condition.”
Mr Singleton continued: “Jemma lived alone with her two dogs in Swindon and she was estranged from her family. Jemma was found in her home with injuries caused by dogs after she died. Her death has been recorded as suicide.”
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