Woman Disappeared From Home Following Contact With Mental Health Services

The devastated family of a mum-of-two from Greater Manchester who was confirmed dead two years after she went missing have spoken out on losing “the most incredible and beautiful person.”

Marie Scott, 58, from Hale, Trafford, went missing in December 2017.  At the time, she was known to mental health services and had previous contact with the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust.

She was confirmed dead two years later following the discovery of her remains.

Following her death, Marie’s widower Jim, 63 instructed medical negligence experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate Marie’s care under the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust prior to her death, and to support them through the inquest process.

An inquest was held at South Manchester Coroners Court, Stockport, this week.  It was concluded by the Coroner that the absence of monitoring of Marie’s compliance with the home treatment plan was a “stark and serious omission”. 

Expert Opinion

“The past few years have been extremely difficult for Marie’s family; having to go through the distress of her going missing, spending extensive periods trying to locate her and then the devastation of finding out she had died.

Undoubtedly, reliving everything that happened in great detail during the week-long inquest has been distressing for the family. While nothing will make up for their tragic loss, we’re pleased to have helped provide them with some answers.

The inquest heard evidence of the increasing severity of suicide attempts within a short space of time, against a background of initial unwillingness to engage with community treatment services and Marie being allowed to re-negotiate the terms of her engagement with them on numerous occasions. Marie’s family feel badly let down by what happened.

It’s now vital that the lessons which the Trust say have been learned are indeed integrated into the care of all patients, to ensure other patients are safe and their families do not have to suffer like Marie’s. In the meantime, we’ll continue to support them as they attempt to come to terms with what they’ve been through as best they can.”
David Woolmer - Solicitor

Marie’s mental health began deteriorating in October 2017 following the death of her mum Irene.  She was subsequently prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping tablets by her GP.

On 3 December, Marie’s family found her unresponsive.  They called an ambulance and she was taken to hospital, but was discharged the next day following assessment by the Mental Health Liaison team.

On 8 December, Marie disappeared from the family home and was found submerged up to her neck in a pond in Sunbank Wood, with cuts to her body.  She was taken back to hospital, where she remained for four days.

Marie left home in the early afternoon of 18 December.  The inquest heard she boarded a bus at Altrincham Station, followed by a tram to Deansgate.  She then took another tram to Victoria Station and a taxi to Heaton Park then Bury.

She was last seen on CCTV walking towards Openshaw Park in Bury.

In December 2018, a leg was found in the River Irwell in Salford, which was later confirmed to be Marie’s.  Further remains were discovered near Frodsham in Cheshire in December 2019.

Jim said: “The legal proceedings may be nearly over, but the sense of loss we feel will never end.

“The last four years have been incredibly difficult for everyone, but even more so for myself, Stuart and James.

“Marie was such a bubbly person who was loved by everyone who knew her.  We had been together since we were teenagers and had been married for over 40 years. The house isn’t the same without her around and day-to-day living has been a real struggle.

“We’ll miss Marie every single day.”

Stuart said: “My mum was the most beautiful and incredible person.  She was so caring and loving, and the best mum I could have ever wished for.

“She was always laughing and entertaining us all, and I would find myself arm in arm with her the moment a Celine Dion song was played.

“Mum adored me and James, and she worked so hard so we could both have the best lives.  For that, we will both be forever grateful to her.

“There’s not a day goes by that we don’t talk about mum, reminisce the fond memories and celebrate her life, but inside we are going through unbearable pain.  I will miss the times where she would open birthday or Christmas cards from me and cry with pride.  It’s also devastating to think that she is no longer around to continue being the most incredible grandma to my son.

“Mum was such a special woman and she is in my heart and thoughts every day.”

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