A woman was found dead in a hotel in Stratford – and her cause of death is a mystery, a court has heard.
Veronica Marion Morrow, 39, was born in the USA but lived in Jacks Farm Way, Chingford, coroner’s officer Jean Smyth told East London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday (July 23).
However, on July 8, the London Ambulance Service was called to the Yotelpad hotel in Broadway, Stratford.
Paramedics then called the Metropolitan Police to the hotel, explaining that they had “found a female unresponsive in bed”.
Mrs Morrow “was identified by the police using her driving licence, which was found at the scene,” said Mrs Smyth.
The Met Police deemed Mrs Morrow’s death non-suspicious and referred it to the court for investigation, which ordered an autopsy.
But, said Mrs Smyth, “The precise cause of death has not yet been ascertained.”
Samples from Mrs Morrow’s body have now been sent away for toxicology testing.
Coroner Nadia Persaud said the criteria had been met to open an inquest.
Coroners are required to hold public investigations into all unnatural or unexplained deaths.
“The inquest will be opened and adjourned for further investigations to take place,” said Mrs Persaud.
She declared Mrs Morrow’s family “interested persons” – a legal status entitling them to be legally represented, to access evidence ahead of the final inquest and to question any witnesses called to testify.
“I would like from the family some general background information about Mrs Morrow,” said the coroner, including “any details they can provide” about her health and “any concerns surrounding her death”.
She also said she would order disclosure of Mrs Morrow’s medical records, statements from attending police officers and the senior officer who deemed the death non-suspicious, and “any other relevant evidence from the hotel, including checks on CCTV”.
The final inquest was provisionally listed for February 17.
Share