THE BODY of a disabled mother-of-three was discovered in a garden rubbish pile after police searched a property where her wheelchair had been spotted, an inquest has heard.
Kelly Louise Randall, 45, was found dead 11 days after being reported missing by her partner on 5 May 2022. The inquest at Swansea Guildhall on Tuesday (Sept 17) was told that her death in Waunarlwydd, Swansea, was not deemed suspicious by police.
Ms Randall, who had one leg amputated and was known to use heroin, had no physical injuries according to the post-mortem examination. The cause of death was recorded as unascertained, with the coroner, Aled Gruffydd, recording an open conclusion.
Detective Constable Lisa Minto of South Wales Police told the inquest that officers were called to a property on Clas y Deri after reports of Ms Randall’s wheelchair being seen outside. Upon searching the premises, they found the wheelchair in a bedroom, along with blood stains on various items.
The gruesome discovery was made when an officer spotted what appeared to be a human arm in a mound of rubbish in the back garden. Alfred Millman, the resident of the property, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
In a police interview, Mr Millman stated that he had found Ms Randall’s body in a bedroom and “panicked”. He admitted to moving her body outside, saying, “I put her outside where the rubbish was. God knows how long she had been [in the house] because I am hardly in the bedroom”.
The inquest heard that Ms Randall had a history of drug addiction and was on medication at the time of her death. She was also known to self-harm and had been suffering from depression.
A toxicology report revealed the presence of alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, morphine, diazepam, and pregabalin in Ms Randall’s system. Forensic pathologist Dr John Williams stated that he “could not exclude the possibility” that these substances together could have played a role in her death.
Ms Randall’s family, some of whom attended the inquest, had previously paid tribute to her, describing her as a “brilliant mother” and a talented hairdresser who was well-known in the Port Talbot area.
The tragic case highlights the complex issues surrounding substance abuse and mental health, as well as the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. It also underscores the importance of thorough investigations in missing persons cases, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals.
(Image: BBC)
