The tragic suicide of an 18-year-old British student, which later led his mother and sister to take their own lives, is being investigated for a potential connection to a Canadian man accused of selling toxic substances across the globe.
A Family Tragedy Unfolds in Berkshire
Harvey Allen was found dead at his home in Maidenhead, Berkshire, on August 31, 2022. The inquest into his death heard he had consumed toxic materials believed to have been purchased from the so-called 'dark web'. The area coroner for Berkshire, Hannah Godfrey, detailed how Harvey, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age two, was home-schooled and lived a largely isolated life with his mother, Suzan Mahmoud, and his sisters.
"He had a limited social circle consisting of his direct family and those he met online," Ms Godfrey stated. The coroner also noted Harvey experienced substantial anxiety over his short stature and had a lifelong struggle with restricted food intake, linked to sensory aversions associated with his autism.
Devastating Ripple Effect and a Criminal Investigation
The family's devastation was compounded just four months later. In a joint suicide pact in December 2022, Harvey's mother, Suzan Mahmoud, 42, and his 17-year-old sister, Davina Allen, were found dead in their £620,000 countryside bungalow in Hampshire's New Forest. They left letters expressing their profound grief. Harvey's eldest sister, Laura Allen, who found their bodies, said the family was utterly shattered by his loss.
The inquest revealed that police found medication packets and opened pouches of a toxic substance at Harvey's home, along with multiple suicide notes. Crucially, Ms Godfrey confirmed the National Crime Agency (NCA) is actively investigating whether his death is linked to Canadian national Kenneth Law. Law, dubbed a 'merchant of death', allegedly sold 1,200 packages of lethal substances to people in 40 countries between late 2020 and April 2023.
International Scale of Alleged Crimes
Law, who denies any criminal behaviour, is reportedly connected to 131 deaths worldwide, including 97 in Britain. He was initially charged with 14 counts of second-degree murder in Canada, but his lawyer confirmed in January 2023 that these charges have been upgraded to first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for later this year.
While the coroner ruled Harvey's death a suicide, she pointedly recorded his autism diagnosis on the record, highlighting a "recognised and concerning statistical correlation between autism and suicide". She concluded it was not necessary to delay the inquest pending the NCA's ongoing investigation into Kenneth Law.
The case underscores the deadly reach of online marketplaces for harmful substances and the profound, cascading impact of suicide on vulnerable families.
