Mother Details Teen's Mental Health Struggles Before Suspected Suicide Pact
The mother of a teenager who died in a suspected suicide pact with his girlfriend has spoken at an inquest about his long-standing mental health issues and previous suicide attempts. Debbie Williams, mother of 18-year-old Jack Williams, provided a statement to the Bournemouth inquest, revealing her son's struggles from a young age.
Discovery of the Tragic Incident
The bodies of Jack Williams and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Katherine Powell, were discovered at Bothenhampton reservoir near Bridport, Dorset, on the morning of January 25, 2022. The couple had an infant child together. Notably, the inquest heard that both individuals had been arrested just six days earlier on suspicion of possessing an indecent image of a child.
In her emotional statement, Debbie Williams described her son as a "much-loved baby" and recalled his birth as the "happiest day of my life." She explained that she separated from Jack's father when he was one year old, and Jack felt "rejected" by his father. By age ten, he began exhibiting disruptive behavior and talking back.
Escalating Mental Health Challenges
Ms. Williams detailed that by 2016, Jack showed signs of ADHD and autism. In 2017, at age 14, he took an overdose after his behavior and mental health deteriorated. This occurred after they moved from Coventry to Leamington Spa. She sought assistance from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) but encountered difficulties in obtaining the necessary support following his diagnoses of Asperger's syndrome and anxiety.
Jack met Katherine at Kenilworth School, where she was a year younger. Ms. Williams noted, "She was very polite and it was lovely to see Jack smiling and laughing when he was with her." Despite this positive influence, his behavior continued to escalate, and requests for respite from social services were consistently denied.
Further Struggles and Family Decisions
Ms. Williams revealed that Jack began using cannabis and attempted suicide in a nature reserve in 2018, followed by another overdose in January 2019. He became aggressive towards her, and she felt social services blamed her parenting rather than offering help. Consequently, she made the difficult decision for Jack to enter foster care, though she maintained contact.
Their relationship improved, and she visited him after he moved to West Bay in Dorset. However, a disagreement during a visit in July 2021 led her to stop contacting him, hoping he would reach out when in a better place. She admitted this breakdown significantly impacted her own mental health.
Final Days and Police Involvement
On January 24, 2022, police contacted Ms. Williams when Jack and Katherine went missing. She stated, "I was never informed there was a concern about suicide. Had I known, I would have advised them of the time when Jack was younger and making plans to hang himself." The following day, officers visited to inform her of Jack's death, which she described as "the last thing I expected to hear."
Jack's father, Mark Williams, also provided a statement, calling his son the "apple in my eye" and maintaining contact after the separation. He mentioned that during a visit for Jack's 16th birthday, Jack confessed to smoking weed and self-harming due to depression and unhappiness but refused to seek help from a GP.
This inquest highlights the profound mental health challenges faced by young individuals and the complexities of accessing adequate support systems.
