In 2021, Shirley Nunn, 67, and her son Steven, 50, were found dead in their Middlesbrough home. A recent investigation has revealed the heartbreaking circumstances behind the tragedy — and how it could have been prevented.
Shirley had been Steven’s full-time caregiver since he suffered a life-altering accident at age 11, leaving him with brain damage, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and multiple disabilities. After losing her husband to cancer, Shirley became Steven’s sole support.
In October 2021, Shirley was diagnosed with terminal stage 3 lung cancer. Her greatest fear wasn’t dying, but what would happen to Steven without her. A Domestic Homicide Review revealed she was battling depression and had expressed thoughts of suicide.
Despite help from adult social care, Shirley felt overwhelmed and unsupported. Two days after being discharged from the hospital to die at home, she and Steven were found dead — on the second anniversary of her husband’s passing.
The report concluded that Shirley’s emotional struggles were overlooked and that earlier mental health intervention might have saved both lives.
This tragedy raises urgent questions: Are we doing enough to support caregivers in crisis? Could better mental health care and planning have prevented this loss?
