Martina Karos and her daughter, Eleni Edwards, were found dead at home in September 2024
Chris Slater, Helena Vesty NHS, social care and patients reporter and Ellie Gosley
15:49, 15 Jan 2026
A mum killed her disabled child and took her own life, a coroner has concluded. The bodies of Martina Karos, 40, and eight-year-old Eleni Edwards were discovered at their home in Kersal, Salford, on Monday, September 23, 2024.
Emergency services raised concerns after Eleni failed to attend school. They forced entry to the house on South Radford Street where the bodies of the mum and daughter were found in the same bedroom. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Pathologists later concluded they died as a result of 'carbon monoxide toxicity'.
Inquests into their deaths have been held simultaneously at Bolton Coroners' Court this week. Following three days of evidence, area coroner Peter Sigee has ruled Ms Karos died by suicide, and that Eleni was unlawfully killed.
Giving his conclusion on Thursday he said: "Ms Karos had deliberately placed herself and her daughter in an environment where they were overcome by the toxic effects of carbon monoxide with the intention and effect of ending both their lives. Ms Karos was the sole parental carer for her eight-year-old daughter, who had profound physical and mental disabilities, which had become apparent within months of her birth.
"Her daughter was a happy child who was very much loved and very well cared for by Ms Karos throughout her life. Despite a high level of good quality, focused support and care from family, her limited group of friends and professionals (including GP, specialist mental health services, social workers and carers) Ms Karos experienced feelings of extreme loneliness and isolation which overwhelmed her."
The coroner also told the court during the final hearing today that he would make no prevention of future deaths report, which can be made to individuals, organisations, local authorities or government departments and their agencies where the coroner believes that action should be taken to prevent further deaths, reports Manchester Evening News.
The coroner said that he could not identify any failure in the care and support provided to Ms Karos and her daughter, nor any matter in relation to that care that could have contributed to their deaths.
"Ms Karos decided to end her life by suicide," Mr Sigee's conclusion continued. "She was concerned as to the care and support that her daughter would receive after her death and so decided to end her daughter's life at the same time as her own.
"Ms Karos had continuously denied any thoughts of harming herself or her daughter in the period prior to her death, there was no objective basis to suspect that Ms Karos was contemplating/at increased risk of acting as she did at this time and this tragic incident could not reasonably have been foreseen."
The inquests heard that when she was just several months old Eleni was diagnosed with a number of conditions which left her 'severely disabled.' She was blind, non-verbal and had severely restricted mobility. Ms Karos was her full-time carer.
The hearing was told that linguist and translator Ms Karos, who was born in Poland and lived in Italy before moving to the UK in 2003, had been treated for symptoms of anxiety and depression for several years leading up to the deaths and had been prescribed anti-depressants. She often said she felt 'socially isolated' and 'lonely' due to her caring responsibilities, the inquest heard.
Ms Karos' loved ones said her mental health underwent a 'rapid decline' at the end of 2023 when she began expressing suicidal thoughts. In January 2024, Eleni was put under a child protection plan due to a perceived risk of 'emotional harm' as the 'unintended impacts' of Ms Karos' low mood.
Eleni remained under the plan at the time of their deaths but a case conference to review it was scheduled for the day they were found.
Ms Karos' made 'good progress' and her mental health was thought to have improved by the summer and early autumn of 2024. Her GP said she was 'stable' and that she had denied any suicidal thoughts.
None of the professionals involved with the pair reported any immediate concerns about Ms Karos or Eleni around the time of their deaths. Lawyers said it could not be argued that professionals had 'caused or contributed' to the deaths.
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