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A teenage couple killed themselves after they were arrested and their infant child taken into foster care, a jury has concluded.
Katie Powell, 17, and Jack Williams, 18, were found dead at a nature reserve in Dorset, a four-week inquest in Bournemouth heard. After deliberating over three days, the jury concluded that Katie, from Warwickshire, and Jack, from Dorset, had taken their own lives.
The jury highlighted that features of the relationship between Katie and Jack were consistent with her being a victim of controlling and coercive behaviour, though did not conclude this had directly led to her death.
The coroner, Brendan Allen, has asked Dorset police for details of how its domestic abuse policies are disseminated to officers after it emerged that the force had been told of allegations of coercive behaviour. Allen has also asked for Warwickshire county council to give more details of what measures it took after a safeguarding review relating to Katie.
The inquest was told that the bodies of the pair were found at Bothenhampton reservoir, near Bridport, on 25 January 2022. Both had been arrested on 19 January 2022 on suspicion of possessing an indecent image.
The coroner told the jury that neither Katie nor the couple’s child were the subject of the alleged image. He also made it clear that they had not been charged with an offence.
Katie was reported missing by her family on 22 January and Jack, a waiter, on 24 January. Their bodies were found at the nature reserve by a member of the public.
Jurors concluded the pair had taken their own lives. They said that having her child taken into foster care, the alleged offence and the prospect of being separated from Jack had “contributed” to Katie’s decision to take her life.
The inquest heard the pair had met at school in Warwickshire when Katie was 14. She became distant and withdrawn from friends and family, and had the child when she was 17. Jack moved to Dorset and the pair spent time together in his flat there.
The jury said in its findings that concerns about controlling and coercive behaviour had been raised by Katie’s relatives and she had told a social worker she was in a controlling and coercive relationship. The jury said a multi-agency strategy meeting was held but no action had been taken by Dorset police.
After she was arrested, Katie consented to her child being taken into foster care. “Katie was vulnerable and in low mood,” the jury said. She was released on bail on condition she had no contact with her child without social services’ agreement or with Jack.
She returned to a family member’s address in Warwickshire but ran away to Dorset to be with Jack shortly before she died.
The jury concluded that Jack had had a troubled childhood and had tried to take his life “multiple” times before. The jurors said the alleged offence had been a factor in what happened and the loss of contact with his child after his arrest had led to a “lot of distress”.
During the inquest, the court heard that Jack would put Katie and her abilities down, and that he isolated her from family and friends and primed her on how to behave and what to say in front of professionals.
Jack was worried he would go to prison for a lengthy period, the inquest heard, but his family’s legal team said there was no evidence he had coerced Katie into taking her life.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne of Dorset police said: “Dorset police has reviewed its actions and involvement in the investigation to identify any learning opportunities. Subsequently, some protocols have been refreshed.” The force said it was considering its response regarding the coroner’s request for more information about domestic abuse policies.
Warwickshire county council has been approached for comment.
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In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
