Children think Portsmouth dad killed their mother during psychotic episode
Children of a couple found dead suspect their father killed their mother during a psychotic episode before ending his own life - with them saying the tragedy was “entirely avoidable”.
The bodies of Christopher Stone-Houghton, 66, and Ruth Stone-Houghton, 60, were found at their home in Holcot Lane, Portsmouth, on September 14, 2022 in a suspected murder suicide.
Oliver, 30, and Abbie Stone-Houghton, 28, said they lost their parents to “poor mental health” and have called for changes. Chris was under the care of Solent NHS Trust’s mental health services, having been discharged from hospital six weeks prior. A multi-agency report later found that the tragedy could have been avoided with better care.
The siblings are speaking publicly ahead of the full inquest, which commences at Portsmouth Coroner’s Court on Monday 8 December.
Oliver said: “We couldn’t have wished for better parents. Both our parents lost their lives to poor mental health, which we believe was entirely avoidable had dad’s condition been managed better.”
Chris had worked running a family jewellery firm until its closure in April 2022, which contributed to his decline. He was diagnosed with psychotic depression and detained following a suicide attempt in July 2022. He was discharged on 2 August 2022 against his family’s wishes.
The report criticised the care, noting that additional treatment was denied or delayed. Chris was later deemed ineligible for an appropriate service because he turned 66. A scheduled visit was also cancelled days before the tragedy.
Abbie said: “By speaking out, we want other people to notice the signs of ill mental health earlier and keep asking for help until it’s taken seriously. It really could happen to anyone.”
Oliver added: “We thought that once dad was finally in the system, he’d be okay... but ultimately, we learnt that you need to fight for them every step of the way.
"For all the amazing work that so many dedicated and talented professionals do every day, there is so much wrong with a broken system which is struggling to cope.”
Chris’ family suspect that he killed Ruth during a psychotic episode – before ending his own life. Chris had been detained under Section Two of the Mental Health Act following a suicide attempt before he was discharged.
A report later found that while Chris’s mental illness was severe but treatable, and that the tragedy could have been avoided with better care.
Chris’ family became concerned when he began to deteriorate in late 2021. He was finally referred to community mental health services in June 2022 – where he was diagnosed with psychotic depression.
Following a suicide attempt on 4 July 2022, he was detained at Queen Alexandra Hospital and transferred to a psychiatric unit at St James Hospital three days later. Chris was discharged from the section on 25 July 2022 and from St James Hospital on 2 August 2022 - against the wishes of his family, Between 3 and 22 August 2022, Chris received several visits from the home treatment team.
Five days before the tragic deaths, a planned visit was cancelled and replaced with a phone call – where Chris was told he was ineligible for the most appropriate treatment because he was "too old.”
Though Chris entered the service as an “adult” aged 65, he turned 66 whilst under Home Treatment Team care and so was then classed as an “elderly’ patient”, making him ineligible for treatment by the early intervention for psychosis service.
Chris’s next visit was rescheduled by the HTT for two days before the deaths. When the team failed to arrive, Chris phoned the service, only to be told that his visit had been moved to two days later, the day the deaths occurred.
Oliver and Abbie added: “Don't allow yourself to be naive regarding your own mental health and of those around you. Read, explore, discuss, expand. Don't take things at face value or believe you have all the facts. Be kind to yourself, and to others. Mental ill health can be isolating and all-encompassing for those experiencing it and incredibly difficult for family and friends to manage.
“By speaking out, we want other people to notice the signs of ill mental health earlier and keep asking for help until it’s taken seriously. It really could happen to anyone. Knowing what we now know, we would’ve asked for help earlier and then kept the pressure on throughout.
“We thought that once Dad was finally in the system, he’d be okay, but ultimately, we learnt that you know your loved one best and you need to fight for them every step of the way. For all the amazing work that so many dedicated and talented professionals do every day, there is so much wrong with a broken system which is struggling to cope.”
Coroner Rachel Spearing KC told a pre-inquest review in June that post-mortem examinations found Chris died as a result of suspension and the cause of death for his wife was a head injury.
She said: “Chris was sadly suffering from depression and suicidal ideation. There was sadly a rapid and critical deterioration in Chris’s mental health. Family and friends had continued to express concerns relating to the provision of care.”
“Chris sadly didn’t have insight into his condition, he had been suffering from paranoia and there was concern about Chris' compliance with medication. I do not believe there is any evidence of domestic abuse in this case.”