A wealthy private equity executive, Joshua Pack, who oversaw high street brands such as Majestic Wine and Poundstretcher, was discovered dead in his rented London mansion following a heated argument with his wife over airline tickets. The 51-year-old multimillionaire was found by cleaners in a locked top-floor bedroom in St John's Wood, with a ligature around his neck.
Background and Family Life
Pack, co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, which is valued at $50 billion, was in the process of relocating from the United States to the United Kingdom with his wife Jacqueline, his childhood sweetheart of 28 years. The move was part of his role overseeing the firm's European expansion. Jacqueline told an inquest that her husband had been suffering from jet lag and work-related stress.
The couple were staying in a rented property near Primrose Hill while arranging their household move to London. Pack was preparing to lead Fortress's push into Europe, a venture expected to double the company's value to $100 billion.
The Argument
In a statement, Mrs Pack described a tense evening before his death. The couple had been drinking throughout the day and argued about flight tickets. Pack was initially scheduled to return to Dallas on Tuesday but decided to move his flight forward to Monday to travel with his wife. When his personal assistant informed them of a booking issue, a heated argument ensued.
Mrs Pack recounted: 'We were high school sweethearts. Josh was a devout Catholic who worked hard to support me and the children. But there were tensions, as in any long-term marriage.' She noted that her husband could be impulsive, recalling an incident where he threw himself off a Swiss hotel balcony into snow after an argument.
On the day of his death, the row escalated. 'We started screaming at each other. Josh threw my phone across the room and started hitting himself with it. He went to the cupboard and took out a knife. Stick it into me! he said. We both said we would kill ourselves. I never meant it, and I never thought Josh meant it.'
Mrs Pack went to sleep in another room to calm down. She texted him but received no response, which she said was not unusual. The next morning, she assumed he had gone to the airport for his flight, as his PA confirmed he had checked in. However, the airline had automatically checked him in. She later asked staff to break into a locked bedroom where she suspected he might be.
Discovery of the Body
Cleaners reported hearing the couple arguing throughout the night, with screaming and swearing continuing late into Sunday, September 28. The last text on Pack's phone was sent at midnight, arranging a pick-up time for the airport.
Household staff attempted to enter the locked room on Monday afternoon. The door was locked from the inside, and a locksmith could not open it. Around 3 PM, they accessed the room through a crawl space in an adjacent bathroom and found Pack deceased with a ligature around his neck.
Detective Sergeant Graham Alger reviewed evidence from Pack's mobile phone and found no indication of third-party involvement or that he had planned his own death.
Personal Background
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1972, Pack made his home in Texas. He met his wife at school, where he was a star footballer and she a cheerleader. He attended the United States Air Force Academy and was a lifelong patron of veterans' charities. He was a devoted father to four children, a scout-camp leader, and enjoyed snowboarding and travel. He affectionately called his family 'the Six Pack.'
As co-CEO of Fortress, alongside Drew McKnight, Pack oversaw the firm's expansion into Dubai and was set to play a key role in European growth.
Coroner's Conclusion
Coroner Professor Wilcox at Inner West London Coroner's Court delivered a verdict of death by misadventure. She stated that Pack had ended his own life but there was insufficient evidence of intent to rule it a suicide. She noted his history of impulsive behaviour, jet lag, extreme upset after the argument, work stress, and alcohol consumption. The coroner also mentioned that Pack had previously lost his brother to suicide.
Fortress released a statement: 'Everyone at Fortress is grieving the loss of one of our most exceptional leaders. Despite our sorrow, our commitment to our investors remains unwavering. We know the best way to honor Josh's legacy is to continue safeguarding our investors' capital with the same focus and discipline that has defined Fortress for more than 25 years.'
