Daughter kept mother's body in bed for a year

A reclusive woman's body was kept at home by her daughter for more than a year after she died. The decomposed body of Doreen Hulme, 81, was found under a duvet in bed at her home last December. A Stockport inquest was told her daughter Vivien, her carer for 35 years, was arrested on suspicion of murder, but was later released without charge.

Det Sgt Myra Ball said Vivien asked police: "What are you doing arresting me, I've got to go home to look after my mother. And who's going to feed my cats, my mum is waiting at home."

Joan Hulme, one of Mrs Hulme's four daughters, said she visited her mother and her `eccentric' sister in August 2007 before going on holiday. But after she got back, she was never able to go in her mother's semi in Rostherne Road, Sale Moor. Ms Hulme said her mother had been highly intelligent, but became a recluse after losing her sight.



Coroner John Pollard said: "Vivien told police her mum died in her sleep some time around August 2007. She also said she had gone into a state of shock. Her sisters were abroad, she was alone and she had a breakdown, she couldn't cope with the death of her mother."

Ms Hulme said Vivien `did everything she could' and added: "Mum died the way she wanted to and lived the way she wanted to. Social services couldn't have done anything for her, so I don't hold anyone responsible."

David Hanley, of Trafford council's social services, said: "The only people who had access to Mrs Hulme were the family and they raised no concerns about her wellbeing. She wanted to be at home with Vivien and Vivien cared well for her given the circumstances." Mr Pollard said `it would have been preferable' if Vivien had reported her death straight away, but this did not alter `the care she gave her mother up to her death'. He recorded a verdict of natural causes.