A married couple was found dead in their home in an apparent double suicide pact.
The couple’s various struggles came to light during an inquest at the Coroners Court in Exeter in the UK.
Preparations leading up to the deaths of Cassie Collins, 35, and Francis Collins, 36, from Cullompton, Devon, UK, involved methodically organized steps including the preparation of a joint will and dispatching letters and emails. Jodie, Cassie’s sister, revealed that the couple had previously voiced a desire to end their own lives. Cassie wrote a letter to her sister on September 11, 2021, regretfully stating her inability to endure her persistent suffering.
When the authorities entered their home, they discovered Cassie’s body in bed, holding three of their deceased dogs – a Chihuahua and two Miniature Pinschers. Francis was found lifeless in the hallway. Jodie remembered Cassie saying that if they ever decided to take their lives, they would euthanize their dogs as they didn’t want them to be cared for by anyone else. Due to Cassie’s chronic pain preventing them from having biological children, they treated their dogs as their family.
The couple’s hardships were made worse by a new police probe against Francis, who had earlier served a prison sentence for an event involving homemade firebombs. Cassie, who was studying to become a nurse, lived with constant pain from knee and shoulder injuries, which left her bed-bound and unfit for work. At the inquest, both mothers of the couple shared their belief that Cassie’s enduring pain, past issues, and the ongoing police investigation ultimately led to the tragic conclusion.
The inquest divulged that both Cassie and Francis had sought help for their mental health issues. Francis, who suffered from depression and anxiety, was diagnosed with severe psychotic depression and was under the care of a community mental health team. Police ruled out any third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances.
The coroner wrapped up the inquest by officially stating both deaths as suicides and recognized the devastating loss the family was going through.
