Martina Karos and Eleni Edwards die in fatal Salford death

Martina Karos and Eleni Edwards die in fatal Salford death
Fatal Salford death of Martina Karos and Eleni Edwards – Obituary

Martina Karos, 40, and her eight-year-old daughter, Eleni Edwards, were found dead inside their Salford home, a case later reviewed in detail by a coroner in Greater Manchester.

Authorities were alerted on 23 September 2024 after Eleni did not arrive at school, prompting a welfare check at the family’s residence. Police subsequently discovered both mother and child deceased at the property.

An inquest heard that Karos, a trained translator who became a full-time caregiver, had been struggling emotionally following the end of a personal relationship. Caring alone for her daughter, who was blind and had limited mobility, left her feeling isolated and overwhelmed by loneliness.

Evidence presented to the court showed Karos had confided in a friend that she felt life was no longer worth living. Testimony also revealed periods where she became emotionally withdrawn while facing the daily demands of caring for Eleni, who required constant assistance.

Social services had placed Eleni on a child protection plan earlier in 2024, and multiple support systems were in place. These included daily care visits, social worker involvement, respite services, and various forms of therapy aimed at supporting Karos’s mental health and social wellbeing.

Despite extensive professional and community assistance, the coroner concluded that Karos took deliberate actions that resulted in both her own death and that of her daughter due to carbon monoxide exposure. The court ruled Karos’s death a suicide, while Eleni’s death was classified as unlawful killing by her mother.

The coroner stated there had been no clear warning signs indicating such an outcome, noting that the tragedy could not reasonably have been anticipated given the level of support involved.