Two teenagers were discovered deceased at a nature reserve following their apprehension on suspicion of possessing an indecent image, an inquiry revealed.
The bodies of Jack Williams, aged 18, and Katherine Powell, aged 17, were found at Bothenhampton reservoir, close to Bridport, on the morning of January 25, 2022. The pair, who shared a child, are believed to have perished in what was described as a “suicide pact” during the inquest held at Bournemouth Town Hall.
During the initial stages of the inquiry, coroner Brendan Allen informed the jury that Mr. Williams was initially arrested on November 22, 2021, for allegedly possessing an indecent image. Subsequently, he was re-apprehended, along with Ms. Powell, on January 19, 2022, on similar charges. Mr. Allen clarified that neither Ms. Powell nor their child were involved in the alleged image.
The inquiry revealed that Ms. Powell was reported missing by her family on January 22, while Mr. Williams was reported missing on January 24. Their lifeless bodies were discovered at the nature reserve by a member of the public and were pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.
Mr. Allen disclosed to the jury that the duo met at Kenilworth School in 2018, with Ms. Powell residing between her separated parents’ homes and Mr. Williams initially staying with his mother before transitioning to “supported accommodation.”
In May 2020, amid the first Covid lockdown, Mr. Williams relocated to privately rented lodgings, with Ms. Powell spending three nights a week with him before their move to West Bay, Dorset, in January 2021. At that time, Ms. Powell was pregnant, leading to a referral to children’s services.
Following Mr. Williams’ initial arrest, he was released on bail with stipulations prohibiting contact with his child, prompting Ms. Powell to return to her mother’s residence in Warwickshire.
Before departing Dorset, she conversed with a social worker, detailing aspects of her relationship with Jack that indicated potential controlling and coercive behavior. Subsequently, the police planned to arrest the couple on January 19 but Ms. Powell was reported missing and later located at Mr. Williams’ residence in West Bay.
After their arrest and subsequent release on bail, Ms. Powell, who returned to her father’s home, was informed of restrictions on unsupervised contact with the child. Prior to their release from police custody, Mr. Williams and Ms. Powell denied any intentions of self-harm or suicide, despite Mr. Williams’ history of suicidal ideation.
Ms. Powell then vanished on January 22, taking a taxi from Kenilworth to West Bay in the early hours. Earlier, her mother had expressed concerns to the police about the possibility of a suicide pact.
A social worker also warned the police on January 24, urging them to escalate the risk level from medium to “very high risk,” which was subsequently raised to the highest level as “high risk.”
The risk assessments conducted by Dorset Police, Warwickshire Police, and the social services departments of Dorset and Warwickshire councils, as well as Dorset Healthcare, will be crucial evidence in the ongoing inquiry.
Present at the inquiry via videolink are Ms. Powell’s parents, Adam and Jane Powell, and Mr. Williams’ mother, Debbie. The proceedings are expected to continue for up to four weeks.
