Two young women die in suspected 'suicide pact'

Two young women have allegedly gassed themselves to death in a suspected copycat “chemical” suicide pact.

By Richard Edwards and Murray Wardrop
Published: 10:08PM BST 30 Sep 2010

The pair, believed to be in their 20s, were found in a flat in Putney, south west London. The windows had been taped up and police believe toxic vapours were released which they inhaled.

Detectives are investigating whether the couple had met in a online suicide forum, or if they were already known to each other, and whether they found the ingredients for the lethal substance on the internet.

One neighbour said that an African woman, who was in her 20s, had moved into the flat five months ago and lived there alone. She had apparently told a friend she had suicidal thoughts and had been “collecting” chemicals at the home.

The case comes a week after Joanne Lee and Stephen Lumb arranged a pact online and then died together in a car filled with a gas used in the First World War. It was said to be Britain’s first “chemical” suicide, and police fear the latest tragedy was a copycat case.

Suicides attributed to the chemical’s use have been reported in Japan and America in the past two years.

Ms Lee and Mr Lumb were strangers and left notes on the outside of the car warning police of the toxic vapours inside.

It is unclear whether any notes were left by the women in Putney and police are studying the women’s movements and internet contacts.

Hundreds of neighbours were evacuated from the Putney area as specialist fire crews were scrambled to the scene.

The Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command was alerted but a chemical attack was ruled out following the discovery of the bodies by police and firefighters wearing gas masks and protective “nuclear” suits.

Suzanne Viggers, 53, who lives opposite the flat where the bodies were found, said an African woman in her late 20s had lived there for the past few months.

She said: “She was a solitary sort of person and rarely seemed to leave her flat. She came across as an anxious girl and I was worried about her because she didn’t seem terribly happy ever since she moved in and she wasn’t working.

“I have been told by someone who knew her quite well that a friend called police when she failed to turn up to a meeting, and she told them she feared she might have tried to take her own life.

“The friend said the girl had been having suicidal thoughts and had been collecting chemicals to kill herself with.

“It’s terribly sad. The first we knew of it was when all the emergency services arrived. It was terrifying because they said it was a chemical poisoning and wouldn’t let us leave our flats all day.”

Another neighbour, who overlooks the property, said he was told the women were young and had taped the windows of their flat closed.

Earlier this month, Miss Lee had formed a suicide pact with Mr Lumb, a lorry driver from Yorkshire who she found on the internet.

Using the name Heaven’s Little Girl, she wrote on a suicide forum page: “I’m desperately seeking a pact in the UK. I’m 34, female, and live in the Essex area.” Mr Lumb, with the username Endthis, responded.

It is believed the 35-year-old drove 200 miles to meet her. Their bodies were found on an industrial estate in Braintree, Essex, near Ms Lee’s home.

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8035852/Two-young-women-die-in-suspected-suicde-pact.html