Two mothers, united by the unimaginable loss of their daughters, have forged a powerful alliance to create a safer world for young people. Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was brutally murdered by two teenagers in 2023, and Jane Coates, whose only child Lucy Harrison, 23, was shot dead by her father in Texas, have found solace and strength in each other.
A Bond Forged in Tragedy
Sharing their unique friendship for the first time, Esther, 39, expressed: "Brianna and Lucy have brought us together – it feels as though this was meant to happen. It’s having someone who you can be completely open with about grief and your experiences – our relationship is on a deeper level. There are some things we’ve spoken to each other about that we wouldn’t necessarily say to other people because they might not understand. I feel really really really lucky to have Jane and I am so glad she came into my life."
Jane, 49, added: "Esther has been a real anchor of support for me. Sometimes there are things that are just unsaid that you don’t actually need to say because we just understand. This is a life you never ever imagine you’ll be living and having to walk through, [but] to have somebody who can just guide you and say ‘I’ve experienced this,’ is amazing."
How They Met and Connected
Fashion buyer Lucy, from Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father Kris Harrison, described as a "functioning alcoholic," in Texas when he shot her in the chest on January 10, 2025. A coroner in the UK ruled her death unlawful, but no criminal case was brought in the US as he claimed the gun discharged accidentally. Esther and Jane briefly met at a mindfulness workshop a year before Lucy's death, but it was the tragedy that solidified their bond. Jane recalled: "When Lucy died, Esther got in touch through Brianna’s former headteacher, Emma, and they both came to visit me before the funeral. They sat for a good couple of hours and I just remember Esther listened with real empathy – and that meant so much. Our relationship has just grown from there."
Although their daughters never met, Esther feels a spiritual connection. She said: "My office is now in Brianna’s room, I have my desk in there and I really feel like she’s with me. One time I was sitting and thinking about Jane and I remember really feeling like Brianna and Lucy were with each other. I thought about how they would interact. I’ve never met Lucy, but it really felt like I was with them both and they were pushing us together." Jane shares this sentiment, believing her friendship with Esther is a gift from Lucy: "Before she died, we were sitting at the table having tea and I told Luce all about Esther. Normally she’d switch off and roll her eyes, but she was genuinely interested and really invested in me doing it. It feels like Lucy and Brianna are with us too."
Campaigning for Change
Since Brianna’s murder by teenagers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, Esther has dedicated herself to making the world safer for young people. She advocates for mindfulness in schools and runs The Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, a community interest company that provides wellbeing sessions for pupils and parents. Jane, a deputy headteacher at a primary school, joined Esther’s mission. Twelve teachers at her school have now signed up for mindfulness training, and nearly every class has benefited from the sessions. Jane has also been appointed director of the Legacy Project.
Jane said: "Esther and I are very similar and very aligned about wanting to push forward for change and we’re very in line in the way that we’re doing it. We’re not shouty people, we want to do it with compassion and with integrity. At my darkest time of grief, as well as having Esther’s friendship, she’s given me the opportunity to be passionate about something again. In those early days and months, you just become numb to the shock and I had to take time off work. But Esther gave me the opportunity, the encouragement and the belief that I could find passion again in something. I’ve reconnected, and I’m so grateful for that."
Lucy’s boyfriend Sam Littler spoke publicly for the first time this week about her death. He was in a different room in the Texas house when Lucy was shot. He said: "Despite officers being aware that alcohol had been consumed, and despite Kris being the only other person in the room when Lucy was shot, no breathalyser or blood alcohol test was carried out. Given the seriousness of the incident, I struggled to understand why objective testing was not undertaken at the time." The Prosper Police Department was approached for comment. Jane has launched a campaign group, For Luce, calling for the case to be reopened in the US.
