Coroner Rules Suicide In the Mysterious Death of Three Sisters in Brighton

The senior coroner at Brighton and Hove has concluded that three west London sisters whose bodies were pulled from the sea off Brighton in May died by suicide.

The tragic deaths of Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, sent shockwaves through the community. During the recent inquest at Woodvale Coroner’s Court, Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield ruled that while the women deliberately entered the water, the exact catalyst behind their actions may remain an eternal mystery.

In the days leading up to the tragedy, the three fiercely private sisters who shared a flat together in Greenford, west London went on a peculiar journey. They took a taxi to Birmingham, directing the driver specifically to Linton Walk near Brookvale Park Lake.

This location bore a deeply painful significance: more than 16 years earlier, in 2010, their mother, Janice Adetoro, had died by drowning after walking into a lake in Birmingham. Family members and investigators noted that the trauma of losing their mother had deeply affected the sisters, causing them to lead the secluded lives they did.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore told the inquest that financial investigation revealed the women had proactively settled their affairs before their deaths. On May 11, Jane Adetoro,who worked as an accountant, completely paid off an active loan. Furthermore, electronic devices belonging to Christina Walters showed she had conducted extensive online searches regarding suicide over the preceding month.

On the evening of May 12, the trio ordered an Uber to Brighton,a seaside city with which they had no known personal ties. CCTV footage tracked them pacing the dark seafront. Investigators confirmed they were last seen alive near east beach at approximately 2:42 AM on May 13.

At around 5:45 AM that morning, emergency services rushed to Madeira Drive after a cyclist spotted a body. RNLI crews and paramedics recovered all three sisters from the water. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that all three died from drowning, with toxicological reports showing zero traces of drugs or alcohol, and no signs of physical trauma or third-party involvement.

Coroner Schofield noted that none of the sisters were strong swimmers and sea conditions at the time were dangerous. Dismissing any speculation of foul play, the coroner officially recorded a verdict of suicide.

Flowers left in tribute at the site of the incident

Attending the hearing remotely via videolink, the women’s grieving father, Joseph Jacobson, shared a heart-wrenching written statement.

 "There are no words that can adequately express the pain of losing a child. To lose all three of my precious daughters, Jane, Christina and Rebecca, is a heartbreak beyond anything I could ever have imagined,"

Mr Jacobson expressed.

"You were my daughters, you will always be my daughters and I will love you for the rest of my life. May your beautiful souls rest in perfect peace."

Friends and family later launched local fundraising efforts to assist with funeral costs as to support a father facing an incomprehensible tragedy.