Woman's body found in UK flat 3 years after her diary entry read 'I'm starving'

Laura Winham, who was reportedly deaf and schizophrenic, believed that maintaining contact with her family would harm her. She stopped social media contact with her family in 2014.

In Short

• Laura Winham was reportedly deaf, schizophrenic
• Cause of death unascertained; last calendar entry dated November 1, 2017
• Social media contact with family stopped in 2014

A woman who lay dead in her England flat for nearly three years before her "mummified and almost skeletal" remains were found by her brother, wrote "I'm starving" in calendar entries prior to her death, an inquest has heard.

The remains of Laura Winham, who was deaf and had schizophrenia, were found on May 21, 2021, The Guardian reported. The family of the woman whom she had asked to stop contacting her, say she had been "abandoned and left to die" by social and mental health services, The Guardian further said.

The cause of her death was "unascertained", a pathologist said during an inquest held at Surrey Coroner's Court, and a time estimate could not be determined. But the court heard that a calendar in Winham's apartment had dates marked out until November 1, 2017.

According to extracts that were read out in court, Laura was running low on food and money and an entry from September 15 read:
"Wish I'd bought rice. Dreaming of (food). Anyway, I'm starving." This was followed up with meal recipes.

"My mobile gave up on 7 September. I got a Tesco run in before it died. I have slept weeks away...I haven't stocked any food for months because I don't know what's happening," The Independent reported, citing an entry dated September 28, 2017.

Her sister Nicola had previously said that Laura had developed a fear of leaving her flat and had dates marked on her calendar which specified days for shopping and other chores.

Nicola told the inquest that she last saw her sister in 2009 and that contact over social media stopped in 2014 as years of mental health issues led her to believe that maintaining contact with her family members would ultimately harm her, The Independent reported.

"It is best to have minimum/no contact. And communication with the family. It is totally out of my hands. There is nothing I can do. Everything I say will get repeated and relayed back. Be patient." Laura's message to her family read.

Nicola told the court that she and her brother visited Laura's house after they got worried about her health. They contacted the police to enter the house when Laura didn't answer despite repeated knocks.

Upon entering her house, they found a "mummified and almost skeletal body".