Family of woman, 23, who lay dead in flat for a year left without answers as to how she died

The ‘mummified’ remains of a woman were discovered in her flat a year after she died, and inquest was told.

Charlotte Leader, 23, was found in her flat in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on August 6, 2025.

But her mother, Chantay Simm, said Charlotte’s family had not heard from her since September 2021.

Despite searching for her, Ms Simm said Charlotte was ‘impossible to find’. Neighbours said they never saw Charlotte leave her home.

She was discovered by police who were conducting a welfare check after Bolton at Home could not gain entry to the flat for a utility inspection.

In a social media tribute her family said: ‘Charlotte was a very beautiful and talented young woman.

‘Her many talents were playing the guitar and keyboard and she also had a love for art.

‘She was loved tremendously by the family and will be missed every day.’

A coroner said Charlotte’s flat was ‘immaculate’ when police investigated and that there was no evidence to suggest suicide.

Assistant coroner Stephen Teasdale told Bolton Coroner’s Court that she ‘suffered from mental health issues’, adding: ‘In time she becomes a stranger from the family, she pushes people away, and she disengages from the mental health services as well.’

Mr Teasdale said there were ‘no illicit drugs found at the scene’ and that nothing in Charlotte’s diaries would ‘suggest that as a problem’.

He also said Charlotte declined an appointment with mental health services in 2022 and that she had no further contact with them.

The 23-year-old’s sister, Caroline Calow, said Charlotte was ‘actively trying to avoid contact’ and that she had a history of eating disorders, including bulimia, from ‘quite a young age’.

When police investigated, the only conversations they found on her phone were between her and ChatGPT, which Charlotte asked to help her.

The last message she wrote, dated July 30, 2024, said: ‘Help me, I’ve went and got food again.’

The AI chatbot replied: ‘You sound conflicted about having food.’

Charlotte replied: ‘It’s food that I didn’t want and that’s frustrating.’

Detective Inspector Paul Quinn said there were other messages in the same context. Charlotte only exchanged messages with ChatGPT.

He said police found ‘no suggestion’ Charlotte intended to commit suidicide.

Her fridge had food in it with sell-by dates of July 2024.

It was difficult to examine Charlotte’s remains as she had become ‘mummified’, according to Dr Andrew Coates, a pathologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, who said it was ‘not unreasonable’ for this to take around a year to occur.

Mr Teasdale closed the inquest with an open conclusion, meaning there was insufficient evidence to determine a cause of death.

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