A coroner has ruled that a mother who was a full-time carer for her severely disabled young daughter killed herself and her child after becoming overwhelmed by feelings of extreme loneliness and isolation.
A Tragic Discovery in Salford
Martina Karos, 40, and her eight-year-old daughter, Eleni Edwards, were found dead at their home in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 23 September 2024. Police were called after Eleni failed to arrive at school that day.
An inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard that Karos, a translator, had struggled with her mental health following the breakdown of a relationship. The demands of caring for Eleni, who was blind and had limited mobility, left her feeling profoundly socially isolated.
Support Was Available But Loneliness Persisted
The hearing was told that Karos and her daughter, whom she affectionately called Laney, were receiving a significant package of support from Salford City Council. This included a child protection plan initiated in January 2024, daily carer visits, social worker input, and access to short and medium-term respite care.
Karos was also offered counselling, talking therapy, and psychotherapy. In an effort to combat her isolation, social workers even accompanied her to social activities to help her build new friendships. However, the coroner heard she struggled to engage with these initiatives.
A close friend told the Guardian that while Karos's small stature made the physical care of her daughter challenging, social isolation was the core issue. "It wasn't just the taking care of her," he said. "It was the fact that when she was alone in the house – it was just her and Laney and she was non-verbal – she was just lonely every night and she had nobody."
Coroner's Conclusions and a Plea for Understanding
Area Coroner for Greater Manchester West, Peter Sigee, concluded the four-day inquest. He stated that Karos had deliberately created an environment where she and Eleni were overcome by carbon monoxide, with the intention of ending both their lives. He recorded a conclusion of suicide for Karos and that Eleni was unlawfully killed.
Mr Sigee emphasised that, despite the "high level of good-quality, focused support" from family, friends, and professionals, Karos's feelings of loneliness became overwhelming. He noted that she had denied any thoughts of harming herself or Eleni and there was no objective basis to suspect she would do so, adding: "This tragic incident could not reasonably have been foreseen."
Her friend described Karos, who held a degree in linguistics and spoke multiple languages, as a "very bright" and good mother. "I just want people to understand that Martina was a great person and just got stuck in a terrible place," he said.
If you are affected by the issues in this article, support is available. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or by email at jo@samaritans.org.
