An elderly woman was recently discovered in east London pushing her deceased daughter in a wheelchair around a shopping center, prompting a local safeguarding board to reevaluate its approach to similar cases.
The pair, referred to by the aliases Jodie, in her 50s, and Janet, in her 70s, first came to the attention of Waltham Forest Council in 2013 when they were forced out of their residence.
The following year, a council worker expressed serious concerns regarding their safety, but these issues were not thoroughly investigated, according to an independent review.
In 2023, law enforcement officers intervened and found Jodie concealed beneath a red coat, exhibiting signs of advanced decomposition.
The two had been residing together in a Leyton flat when Jodie passed away, and her mother reportedly “couldn’t bring herself to let go,” as revealed during last year’s inquest.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, neighbors began raising alarms due to a foul odor and an influx of flies emanating from the home, where Janet had remained for over a year with her daughter’s remains.
Janet, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, is not facing any legal charges.
In response, the Waltham Forest Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB), which comprises representatives from Waltham Forest Council, NHS North East London, and the Metropolitan Police, has been directed to revise and clarify its referral and response protocols.
The officers who made the grim discovery received commendation from the independent reviewer, who remarked: “They had to think and act beyond conventional boundaries.
“They lacked the guidelines, training, or resources typically necessary for such situations, and instead acted on their instinct.
“While this case is unusual and exceedingly rare and should ideally not recur, it underscores the necessity of offering support to individuals faced with similar predicaments.”
Furthermore, the safeguarding board was urged to review its approach to “strange, alarming, and urgent situations” and to contemplate “the type of leadership that is needed in moments like these.”
