A woman who lay dead in her flat for three years wrote “I’m starving” and “I can’t believe I’m surviving this long” in calendar and diary entries prior to her death, an inquest has heard. Laura Winham’s remains were found by her brother in her flat in Woking, Surrey, on May 24, 2021. She was discovered after concerns about her safety prompted loved ones to ask police to break into her home. The pathologist at Surrey Coroner’s Court stated that her cause of death was ‘unascertained’ and pinpointing a time of death was impossible. However, there were dates crossed off in a calendar until November 1, 2017, found in Ms. Winham’s flat.
Extracts from her diary, read by coroner Dr. Karen Henderson, revealed Ms. Winham was running low on food and money. One entry from September 28, 2017, lamented the breakdown of her mobile phone, lack of stocked food, and general uncertainty. Other entries indicated she had been surviving on minimal supplies, such as potatoes and cheese, with only a few pounds left. Details from her calendar, with most dates crossed off and stopping on November 1, 2017, were shared in court. A poignant entry from September 15, 2017, expressed her hunger and longing for food.
Ms. Winham’s family explained that they had lost contact with her due to her mental health struggles, which led her to believe contact with them would harm her. Her sister Nicola revealed they had last seen her in person in 2009, and communication via social media ceased in 2014. Despite concern for her welfare, the family respected Ms. Winham’s wishes for no contact. Her brother and mother eventually visited her flat, leading to the tragic discovery. They called the police after glimpsing a decomposed body through the letterbox, which turned out to be Laura Winham’s mummified remains.
The inquest continues as further details about Laura Winham’s isolated and tragic circumstances come to light.