Two teenagers, Katherine Powell, 17, and Jack Williams, 18, who died in a suspected suicide pact, were released from police custody just days before their tragic deaths, an inquest revealed. The pair were arrested on January 19, 2022, and released on bail. Six days later, on January 25, they were found hanged at Bothenhampton Nature Reserve.
During the inquest, it was disclosed that Katherine and Jack were identified using their police custody images. The reasons for their arrests remain unclear, but a full inquest will investigate the “safeguarding” measures taken by Dorset Police in their decision to grant bail, reported Daily Mail.
Jack had been arrested previously in November 2021, but details of the alleged offenses were not disclosed. Katherine was reported missing by her family on January 22, with a similar report filed for Jack two days later.
Dorset area coroner Brendan Allen stated, “The scope will consider the action taken by Dorset Police to risk assess and safeguard Katherine Powell and Jack Williams in relation to Jack Williams’ arrest on November 22, 2021, and Jack Williams and Katherine Powell’s arrests on January 19, 2022.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has completed its investigation into Dorset Police’s handling of the case but has not yet released its findings.
Jack, originally from Coventry, West Midlands, was unemployed and resided in West Bay, the setting of the ITV drama Broadchurch. Katherine, whose home address was listed as Kenilworth, Warwickshire, was also unemployed.
The families of the teenagers, whose deaths are not being treated as suspicious, attended the hearing virtually. A two-week joint inquest is scheduled to begin on March 24, 2025, which will also scrutinize the search efforts conducted by the police.
The inquest aims to shed light on the events leading up to the deaths of Katherine and Jack and to determine whether appropriate actions were taken by the authorities to safeguard them following their arrests.