Call for police probe into daughter's poison death

The family of a 22-year-old woman who died after she ingested a poison she bought online have questioned why there is no ongoing police investigation into the supplier.

Grace Nevens, 22, from Morpeth, Northumberland, died in November 2024 in hospital, having previously visited an online suicide forum.

At a pre-inquest review, the Northumberland coroner said Northumbria Police had confirmed that no investigation was ongoing into the former Leeds University student's death.

Solicitors representing her family said it was "likely" the person selling the poison knew what "she was planning to do", and they would look to exercise their right for the lack of investigation to be reviewed.

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Northumberland coroner Andrew Hetherington said he was aware of investigations into a Canadian and a Ukrainian who are alleged to have supplied users of a suicide forum with poison.

The coroner said he had spoken to the National Crime Agency about the case.

Alison Seaman, instructed by solicitors Leigh Day to represent Ms Nevens' family, told Mr Hetherington they wanted to challenge the police's decision not to investigate.

Ms Seaman said it was "difficult to understand" why there was no investigation when there was evidence that Ms Nevens had bought the poison online.

"She was someone who was suffering from a crisis in her mental health," she said.

She said Ms Nevens was being treated with medication prior to her death and it was "anticipated that she would be able to recover".

In those circumstances, Ms Seaman said, the family "fail to understand" why there was no police investigation and they would look to exercise their right for that to be reviewed.

"There's no rationale, there's no explanation, that's what is missing for the family," she added.

Ms Nevens' parents Neil and Sharon and sister Lucy were at the hearing.

Mr Hetherington said that if there was a police inquiry, the inquest would have to be adjourned.

He set a provisional inquest date for 5 and 6 March.

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