A missing mother of two was found dead in her home in Swindon. Her two pet dachshunds, Millie and Frankie, had eaten parts of her body. The woman, Jemma Hart, was 45 years old. Her body was discovered on January 29, 2024, after she had been missing for weeks. Authorities believe she had been deceased for up to a month before her body was found. The shocking discovery left the community in disbelief.
Concerned neighbors called the police after not seeing her since Christmas
Ms. Hart’s neighbors grew worried when they realized they had not seen her since Christmas 2023. They were used to seeing her walk her dogs regularly. They also often heard the dogs barking in her backyard. But after weeks of silence and an unopened text message, their concern grew. They eventually only heard one of the dogs whimpering. Fearing something was wrong, they contacted the police, who arrived at the scene to investigate.
Official cause of death confirmed as suicide by toxicologist
After an examination, toxicologist Peter Street confirmed that missing mother had died by suicide. When officers entered her home, they found her lifeless body with clear signs that her dogs had eaten parts of her remains. Tragically, one of the dachshunds had also died, while the other was found alive but in distress. The sight inside the home was heartbreaking and difficult for responders to process.
Police confirmed there was no crime or suspicious activity involved
Coroner Ian Singleton handled the case and determined that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Ms. Hart’s death. He confirmed that she lived alone with her two dogs and had been estranged from her family. The injuries on her body were caused by the dogs only after she had passed away. Police ruled out any criminal activity and officially recorded her death as a suicide.
Son spoke about her deep love and strong bond with her two dogs
During the inquest, Ms. Hart’s son shared details about his mother’s deep love for her dogs. He explained that she had always been a dog lover. In 2022, she got her first dachshund, Frankie, and a year later, she adopted Millie. She regularly took them for walks in Lydiard Park, which was close to her home. Her dogs were a major part of her life and brought her comfort during difficult times.
Struggles with health issues led to challenges in her daily life
Ms. Hart had lived in her home for about ten years. She faced ongoing health and mobility issues that made life difficult. Her physical struggles eventually forced her to stop working. In addition to her pain, she also suffered from insomnia, which added to her difficulties. These challenges affected her daily routine and overall well-being.
A tragic and heartbreaking ending to a lonely situation
The discovery of Ms. Hart’s body was a tragic and heartbreaking event. She had been alone for weeks before being found, and her two dachshunds, left without food, had resorted to eating parts of her body to survive. One of the dogs did not make it, and the other was found in distress. Police confirmed that there was no foul play involved. Her death was ruled as a suicide, and the case has now been officially closed.
