A heartbroken homeless man stayed with his wife’s dead body for three days after he found her at a beauty spot.
Michael Winter and his wife, Angela, suffered a tragic downward spiral of misfortune after they ended up homeless when they lost their jobs during the first lockdown.
Devastated Michael discovered Angela’s dead body weeks after the couple were made homeless and had been living in a tent.
On June 29 last year the 56-year-old found her body near a children’s play park but decided to stay by her side for three days.
On July 2 Michael walked to the nearest police station to report her death.
This week an inquiry into Angela’s death found that she had committed suicide near where she was found in Burton, Staffordshire.
It was heard how Mr Winter also tried to take his own life after the heartbreaking discovery, according to Birmingham Live.
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.
“The toxicology report revealed combined clonazepam, paracetamol and atolin. But we don’t know the full extent of any other drugs as we did not test for them.
“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.”
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.
It wasn’t until June 29 he made the tragic discovery, before walking to cops three days later, where he said he had not eaten or drank anything in days.
Her cause of death was given as the combined affects of clonazepam, paracetamol and atolin.
A verdict of suicide was delivered.
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