UK - Rachel Booth, 38, last seen at Sandiway Garage, A556, 3.50am, Northwich, 19 July, 2025

[Cardgame]

G

I think the inquest should have added ‘unnatural death as a result of drowning’

I think people have jumped on the sole word of unnatural and now think it’s suspicious which is not helpful.

I think unnatural death with no suspicious circumstances is just a less to the point way of saying she likely completed suicide that night

Yes, I read up on this a little last night out of curiosity about what it all meant, I read various government websites and still felt none the wiser. I found the information available online to be very poorly written and it made me feel sad for anyone who gets caught up in this kind of process as a result of a family death.
This Court services website for example offers the following info:

(taken from https://coronerscourtssupportservic...CCSS-EL_Inquest_Factsheet_Final29317221_3.pdf )

Inquest process, step by step
1. Reportable death occurs - referred to Coroner.
2. Coroner considers information and decides as to whether an Inquest is required. The Coroner can either request more information (and opens a preliminary "Investigation") or decide there and then that an Inquest is required. The Inquest is "Opened and Adjourned for further investigations".
3. If the Investigation or Inquest is opened, usually a Post-Mortem Examination (also called an autopsy) is performed to establish the probable medical cause of death.
4. If the Post-Mortem shows an Inquest is not necessary after all, the family are informed, and the process concludes. For example, if the post mortem determines the person died of natural causes.(After Post-Mortem, the family can usually then make funeral arrangements)
5. If an Inquest is necessary, the Coroner reviews and decides:
-5.1. If a referral to Police/CPS is needed for possible criminal prosecution.
5.2. If no criminal issues, fixes timetable and calls for evidence.
5.3. If needed, arranges a Pre-Inquest Review (all interested persons, including family, are invited) to discuss relevant issues, review evidence, identify witnesses required and to fix a timetable.
6. When investigations are complete, the Inquest date is fixed, witnesses notified to attend to give evidence and answer questions.

 

[Cardgame]

G


Yes, I read up on this a little last night out of curiosity about what it all meant, I read various government websites and still felt none the wiser. I found the information available online to be very poorly written and it made me feel sad for anyone who gets caught up in this kind of process as a result of a family death.
This Court services website for example offers the following info:

(taken from https://coronerscourtssupportservic...CCSS-EL_Inquest_Factsheet_Final29317221_3.pdf )

Inquest process, step by step
1. Reportable death occurs - referred to Coroner.
2. Coroner considers information and decides as to whether an Inquest is required. The Coroner can either request more information (and opens a preliminary "Investigation") or decide there and then that an Inquest is required. The Inquest is "Opened and Adjourned for further investigations".
3. If the Investigation or Inquest is opened, usually a Post-Mortem Examination (also called an autopsy) is performed to establish the probable medical cause of death.
4. If the Post-Mortem shows an Inquest is not necessary after all, the family are informed, and the process concludes. For example, if the post mortem determines the person died of natural causes.(After Post-Mortem, the family can usually then make funeral arrangements)
5. If an Inquest is necessary, the Coroner reviews and decides:
-5.1. If a referral to Police/CPS is needed for possible criminal prosecution.
5.2. If no criminal issues, fixes timetable and calls for evidence.
5.3. If needed, arranges a Pre-Inquest Review (all interested persons, including family, are invited) to discuss relevant issues, review evidence, identify witnesses required and to fix a timetable.
6. When investigations are complete, the Inquest date is fixed, witnesses notified to attend to give evidence and answer questions.

What is strange in this case, or the reporting of it, is that there didn't seem to be any question that Rachel died of natural causes, so it shouldn't be 'news' that the coroner has opened an inquest. In any situation like this, that's due process. I find it all very confusing though. Even in that article above in People makes it sound like the inquest has already happened:

'She was referred to as Rachel Langley during the inquest.' it says, meaning - I think - the 'hearing' that it refers to as having taken place. But the outline of the process above makes no mention of a hearing.

This kind of article always makes me wonder if the press know more than they are able to report. But I might be being a conspiracy theorist, and more likely it's just click bait.

 

[Inthedetails]

Rest in peace, Rachel.

 

[Chimera]

New Details Revealed in Death of Mom of 3 Found in Lake After Buying Groceries at a Gas Station

The cause of death has been revealed for a missing mom of three whose body was found in a lake after she was last seen buying groceries at a gas station in July. The coroner said she suffered an 'unnatural' death, so an inquest has now been opened.

people.com

"Given that an unnatural cause of death has been identified on the post-mortem, it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest," Coroner Victoria Davies said, according to the BBC.''

''A spokesperson for Cheshire Coroner's Court tells PEOPLE in an email that "information regarding the official cause of death will be available upon the inquest’s conclusion," set for Jan. 27.''

I am thinking for the families' sake and mostly for the deceased --they need to cover all bases ?
How incredibly tragic, whatever happened.
Imo.

 

[Chimera]

Did they find the items she'd purchased near the lake ?

 

[Sunny Day]

Did they find the items she'd purchased near the lake ?

Great question. I have been wondering that myself. I haven't seen any reference to the items anywhere. It would seem like if she was attacked the items would be dropped and that area would be a pretty good place to start looking for clues.