A PENSIONER from Wrexham who left a suicide note may not have killed herself, a Wrexham inquest heard last Thursday.
Gwenda Parry, 74, of Richmond Road, Wrexham, was found dead at the bottom of her garden on January 2 earlier this year.
She was found by her nephew wearing her night dress, with her dressing gown folded neatly nearby, the garden’s security lights had also been switched off.
Her cause of death was recorded as hypothermia.
However, acting coroner for North East Wales John Gittins delivered an open verdict, after it was revealed a suicide note written by Gwenda, apologising and saying she wanted to be with her husband, was later found in the kitchen.
The inquest also heard how Gwenda and her husband of 50 years, John, who died in 2007, had both tried to take their own lives in an apparent suicide pact in November 2004.
They were found by family members after having taken an overdose of prescription drugs.
They recovered from this incident, but the pair were said to suffer from ill health, with Gwenda especially experiencing back pain and depression.
Recording his verdict, John Gittins said: “Results from a post-mortem show she had no drugs or alcohol in her system, and nothing that would indicate she had reason to collapse.
“I’m not convinced she meant to take her own life in this manner, but it is certain that she meant at some point to bring her life to an end.
“Her dressing gown folded nearby could be a result of confusion caused by the hypothermia, not a deliberate act.
“I’m not certain she meant to freeze herself to death, but I’m not confident it was just an accident either, so I will record an open verdict.”
