A devastated husband stayed with his wife's body for three days after finding her dead at a beauty spot.
Michael Winter last saw his wife Angela, 56, when she stormed off following an argument weeks after they were both made homeless, an inquest heard.
The former Kerry Foods worker said she could no longer cope with living in a tent when they lost their jobs due to the pandemic, it was said.
Mr Winter remained at their campsite in Burton, Staffordshire, believing she would return.
But after several days, he started looking for her and eventually found her dead in woodland near a children's park at the Washlands last June.
Distraught, Mr Winter then tried to commit suicide by slashing his arms, reports Staffordshire Live.
He wrapped his wife's body in the tent where she was found so that any children playing nearby would not see it.
The heartbroken husband stayed by her side for the next three days before walking to Burton Police Station to report her death, the inquest was told.
He did not eat or drink anything during this time as he was so upset, he later told police officers.
The inquest was held by South Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe on February 15.
Mr Winter was arrested on suspicion of murder and later cleared of any wrong doing after the results of a post-mortem examination, the court heard.
Police continued to piece together the tragic story.
A toxicology revealed Mrs Winter had several drugs including paracetamol in her system which, when combined, may have led to fatal toxicity, the inquest was told.
Dr Alexander Kolar, who carried out the post-mortem, said: "There was quite significant decomposition and she had been dead for a number of days.
"There were no restraints and no evidence of injury. In her lungs we also found widespread pneumonia.
"This was possibly independent from the drugs but the drugs [taken] slow the heart rate and breath rate and poses a significant risk of pneumonia.
"It is far more likely that it became a more prolonged death associated with the drugs in her system."
The inquest heard a statement made by Mr Winter during an interview with police.
He said that the couple had lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic and in March 2021 they could no longer pay the rent on their Burton home.
They left the majority of their belongings behind and moved in with Mr Winter's family, it was said.
However, family disagreements led to the couple moving out on June 1 and they started living in a tent in and around Burton and relying on food banks to eat.
The couple tried to return to Mr Winter's family on June 20 but were not allowed back.
In his statement, Mr Winter said they had often been asked to leave the areas they camped with their tent and, at one point, were told to leave Branston Water Park.
It came to a head on June 24 when they struggled to sleep, and Mr Winter said his wife "exploded", saying she had had enough of their living arrangements and walked off carrying two bags.
He told police he believed she would return but after a few days he decided to look for her. It wasn't until June 29 he made the heartbreaking discovery.
Mr Winter found her lying on top of her tent and checked her rucksack and found all her medication for her epilepsy, thyroid condition and blo od pressure had gone.
Reading the statement, Mr Howe said: "He did not think she was suicidal. He sat down next to her and looked in her bag and found all her medication had gone and believed she had taken an overdose.
"He sat with her for the next few days and wrapped her body in the tent as he was concerned about children playing in the park nearby."
Mr Winter later attempted to kill himself before walking to the police station on July 2, it was said.
A forensic entomologist, a scientist who studies insects, estimated her death occurred between June 23 and June 26. She was discovered by her husband on June 29 and her death was reported to police on July 2.
She was formally identified using her sister's DNA.
Her cause of death was given as the combined affects of several medicinal drugs, with the coroner recording a verdict of suicide.
At the time of her death, Angela’s family released a statement which said: “Angela was a lovely sister who will be sadly missed by all of her family.
“We are hopeful that in the near future, we will learn more about what led up to her passing.”
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