The bodies of Martina Karos, 42, and her severely disabled daughter, Eleni Edwards were found at their home in Salford after Eleni failed to attend her special school on September 23, 2024
A “devoted” mum who was found dead in her home with her disabled eight-year-old child was scared her daughter would be taken away, a coroner’s court has heard.
Police discovered the bodies of Martina Karos, 42, and her severely disabled daughter, Eleni Edwards at their home in Salford. Authorities were alerted after Eleni failed to attend her special school on September 23, 2024.
The inquest heard how Ms Karos had been depressed and felt lonely in the period leading up to the tragic incident. Police said they were not looking for anyone else in their investigation into the deaths.
Ms Karos’s best friend, Kirree Marsland, told the inquest that Ms Karos had told her that her life was not worth living and she was depressed.
The hearing, at Bolton Coroner’s Court was told that Ms Marsland had twice reported to social services that Ms Karos was depressed and suicidal.
Ms Karos was born in Lublin, Poland before moving to Italy as a child. She moved to England in 2003 and studied languages at university and worked as a translator and interpreter.
The court heard how she was “surprised and excited” when she learned, after being told she could not have children, that she was pregnant with Eleni.
Six months after a normal pregnancy and birth in June 2016 it became clear that Eleni was very severely disabled, unable to see or communicate verbally and with restricted mobility.
The inquest heard from Ms Karos’s mother, Malgorzata Karos, who said that despite Eleni’s complex needs: “She was the happiest girl in the world despite her disabilities.”
She added that her daughter loved Eleni “day and night” and was a devoted mother. But a year before the deaths, she said, her daughter began to express concern.
Mrs Karos told the hearing: “Martina started saying she felt like a prisoner in her own home. She started talking about being lonely, lonesome.”
Ms Karos was unable to work, with the weight of caring responsibilities for her daughter, and became socially isolated, despite support being offered from local agencies, the inquest was told.
Though she had daily help, Ms Karos did not feel comfortable leaving her daughter with different carers, who frequently changed from day to day.
Mrs Karos said that following her daughter and granddaughter’s death she discovered she had not been taking the medication she had been prescribed.
Ms Karos had also told her mother she was concerned social services might take her daughter, adding: “I can’t live without Eleni.”
Mrs Marsland, who met Martina while both were studying at Salford University, described her as being very positive, larger than life, funny and sociable.
But she said Eleni was big for her age and, as she grew, caring for her became more physically demanding.
She said Ms Karos was unable to work and socialising became difficult because of the demands of caring for her child, and Mrs Marsland described her friend as “very socially isolated”.
In December 2023 Mrs Marsland said she alerted social services with her concerns about Ms Karos’s mental health.
She said her friend had always been such a devoted, loving mother, but she noticed her becoming “distant” emotionally, from her daughter.
Mrs Marsland told the hearing: “She just kind of lost herself. I was concerned about her state of mind. I was concerned about Martina’s mental health, it seemed to be in rapid decline.
“She made reference to me about feeling that her life was not worth living and made reference to suicide, which is why I contacted social services.
“I didn’t think she would harm Eleni in any way. She absolutely loved her.”
A child protection plan was put in place by Salford City Council but Mrs Marsland said her friend did not feel “overly supported” and took it as a “punishment”.
Mrs Marsland said that although respite care was given to Eleni, so her mother could have a break, the times when she was available did not always coincide with that of her friends, so socialising was difficult for Ms Karos.
The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday.
