Female football star found dead after row with girlfriend over telling her family about them
Katie Sheppard, 20, who played for West Ham Ladies, had sent angry texts to her partner in the days before her death
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Katie Sheppard, a rising star of women's football, was found hanging days after a row over her girlfriend's refusal to tell her parents about their relationship
A rising star of women's football was found hanging days after a row over her girlfriend's refusal to tell her parents about their relationship, an inquest heard.
Katie Sheppard, 20, who played for West Ham Ladies, sent angry text messages'shouting' at her partner Nancy Richardson.
The promising midfielder was discovered dead on July 2nd this year just hours before she was due to begin pre-season training at the club.
Her body was found by Nathaniel Hall, her mother's partner, at her home in Sidcup, Kent.
Yesterday an inquest at Croydon Coroner's Court heard how officers were concerned the couple may have planned a suicide pact.
PC Alex Giacomazzi said he rushed to Nancy's home after speaking to Ms Sheppard's brother, Christopher, soon after her body was discovered.
He told the inquest: "I learned that Katie was openly homosexual and her family and friends had accepted that.
"I found out she had a girlfriend called Nancy Richardson, I was worried that there may have been some sort of pact and they did it together."
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A rising star of women's football was found hanging days after a row over her girlfriend's refusal to tell her parents about their relationship, an inquest heard.
Katie Sheppard, 20, who played for West Ham Ladies, sent angry text messages'shouting' at her partner Nancy Richardson.
The promising midfielder was discovered dead on July 2nd this year just hours before she was due to begin pre-season training at the club.
Her body was found by Nathaniel Hall, her mother's partner, at her home in Sidcup, Kent.
Yesterday an inquest at Croydon Coroner's Court heard how officers were concerned the couple may have planned a suicide pact.
PC Alex Giacomazzi said he rushed to Nancy's home after speaking to Ms Sheppard's brother, Christopher, soon after her body was discovered.
He told the inquest: "I learned that Katie was openly homosexual and her family and friends had accepted that.
"I found out she had a girlfriend called Nancy Richardson, I was worried that there may have been some sort of pact and they did it together."
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Katie
had sent angry messages to Nancy in the days before her death
But when he turned up at Ms Richardson's home he had to break the news to her in front of her parents.
But when he turned up at Ms Richardson's home he had to break the news to her in front of her parents.
Ms Richardson revealed communication between the two had been difficult in the days before, the court heard.
PC Giacomazzi told coroner Dr Adela Williams he had gone through Nancy's phone and the tone of the messages from Katie had changed in the days leading up to her death.
He said: "It had suddenly changed very dramatically and Katie started 'shouting' over text message, using capitals, because Nancy wasn't telling her parents about the relationship."
At 10.29am on the day of her death Katie sent a chilling message to Nancy saying: "Don't look at your phone or you might turn up here and I can't physically answer."
A diary found in her bedroom contained a hand written suicide note with the message: "God forgive me, I sacrifice myself to you and to your kingdom."
Beside the message was a picture of a coffin with the letter 'K' on it, the inquest heard.
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Talented footballer Katie had hopes of going on to play for an American teamDoctors records showed Ms Sheppard had been prescribed antidepressants the year before her death, although none were found at her home.
A police investigation and postmortem ruled out foul play and gave the cause of death as asphyxia by hanging.
Recording an open verdict coroner Dr Williams said: "We are left with a situation where there's really no explanation for why Katie died.
"We are left with a young girl who had a really major shift in her life, going to university is a major event in a young girl's life.
"I don't think we know if she intended to do it as a call for help.
"I don't find the note itself as evidence that she intended to do it, although I appreciate that's not satisfactory for the family to hear."
She added: "I'm desperately sorry and I would like to give my sincerest condolences to Katie's family."
The former Charlton Athletic junior player had recently returned home for the summer from Kent University.
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Katie aspired to be like her footballing hero Scott Parker
The sports therapy student had played for West Ham ladies for two years, making four first team appearances in 2012/13. She hoped to go on to play for a US team.
The sports therapy student had played for West Ham ladies for two years, making four first team appearances in 2012/13. She hoped to go on to play for a US team.
She said she aspired to be like hero football Scott Parker, but said her dad was her biggest inspiration.
In a questionnaire published on the Charlton Athletic website she said:"He is the one who takes me to and from games and will always be honest in telling me about how I played and how to progress."
Miss Sheppard's family declined to comment as they left the inquest.
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