An inquest is being held into the death of Laura Winham after her remains were discovered by her brother in her flat in Woking, Surrey, more than three years after she passed away. The family of the vulnerable woman had raised concerns about her welfare nearly two months before she was found, according to testimony at the inquest.
Laura Winham was 41 years old when her brother made the grim discovery in May 2021. Her loved ones had contacted the police to check on her after worries about her safety. They alleged that she had been “abandoned and left to die” by social and mental health services, stating that she had passed away in November 2017, years before her body was found.
Testimony at the Surrey Coroner’s Court revealed that Ms. Winham’s family had reached out to Woking Borough Council (WBC) approximately two months prior to the discovery of her body. A former employee of New Vision Homes, the landlord contractor for WBC at the time, stated that Ms. Winham’s sister had contacted them expressing concerns about her welfare due to a buildup of unopened mail at her residence.
Despite attempts by authorities to contact her, including a door knock that went unanswered, Ms. Winham’s remains were not found until the end of May. The inquest heard that she had been flagged as vulnerable, but the necessary actions to ensure her safety had not been taken.
She had been served an eviction notice in 2014 for rent arrears but was able to avoid eviction with the help of a housing support officer who recognized her vulnerability. However, she struggled with schizophrenia, which led to her isolation from her family.
In the years leading up to her discovery, various attempts were made to reach out to Ms. Winham, including a gas company trying to conduct a check on her property in 2018. WBC had visited her home in March 2021, but there were no further reports on her situation.
The inquest into Laura Winham’s death continues as more details about her circumstances and the actions taken by authorities are revealed. The tragic case highlights the importance of ensuring that vulnerable individuals are properly supported and monitored to prevent such heartbreaking outcomes.