A devoted mother found dead at her home alongside her severely disabled eight-year-old daughter had been terrified that social services would take her child away, a coroner's court has heard.
A Tragic Discovery in Salford
The bodies of 42-year-old Martina Karos and her daughter, Eleni Edwards, were discovered at their home in Salford on September 23, 2024. The alarm was raised after Eleni, who had complex needs, did not arrive at her special school that day. Police confirmed they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.
The hearing at Bolton Coroner's Court was told Ms Karos had been struggling with depression and profound loneliness in the period leading up to the tragedy. Her best friend, Kirree Marsland, stated that Ms Karos had said her life was not worth living and had expressed suicidal thoughts.
The Weight of Caring and Isolation
Martina Karos, originally from Lublin in Poland, had moved to England in 2003. She was overjoyed to become pregnant with Eleni in 2016 after being told she could not have children. However, six months after a normal birth, it became clear Eleni was very severely disabled. The child could not see, communicate verbally, and had restricted mobility.
Despite describing Eleni as "the happiest girl in the world," Ms Karos's mother, Malgorzata Karos, said her daughter had begun to feel like a prisoner in her own home. The immense physical and emotional demands of full-time care led to social isolation, even though local agencies offered support. Ms Karos did not work and was uncomfortable leaving Eleni with a frequently changing roster of carers.
"She started talking about being lonely, lonesome," Mrs Karos told the inquest. She also revealed her daughter had stopped taking prescribed medication and had voiced her deepest fear: "I can't live without Eleni."
Repeated Warnings and a Sense of Failure
Both Ms Karos's mother and her best friend, Kirree Marsland, reported their serious concerns to social services. Mrs Marsland, who met Martina at Salford University, described her as once being positive and sociable, but said she had become "very socially isolated" and emotionally distant.
In December 2023, Mrs Marsland made a formal alert regarding Ms Karos's rapidly declining mental health and suicidal references. A child protection plan was implemented by Salford City Council, but the court heard Ms Karos did not feel "overly supported" and saw it as a punishment.
Although respite care was available, the timing often did not align with when Ms Karos's friends were free, making it difficult for her to socialise. The inquest has been adjourned and will resume.
