Tragic scene at the house where mother and daughter were found dead months after 999 plea

A POLICE officer has revealed the tragic scene discovered inside a Nottingham council house where a mother and her daughter were found dead weeks to months after they died.

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

The bodies of Alphonsine Leuga, 47, and Loraine Choulla, 18, were found inside their council house at 85 Hartley Road in Radford on May 21, 2024.

The mother's provisional cause of death has been established as pneumonia of uncertain cause, while the daughter's cause of death will be determined during an inquest.

The inquest started on Monday, at Nottingham Coroner's Court and is due to conclude today. The hearing was yesterday told of the heartbreaking state the family's home was left in as their bodies lay undiscovered for months.

Detective Constable Jack Cook, of Nottinghamshire Police, explained that officers attended the address at around noon on May 21 after a member of the public raised concerns about the mum and daughter's welfare. The man had noticed the grass was overgrown and also spotted flies in one of the windows. Inside, officers found Alphonsine's body in the hallway, while Loraine's was upstairs in her bedroom.

DC Cook told coroner Amanda Bewley that a small amount of mouldy food was found in the fridge, with the power having been turned off at the property, likely by Alphonsine. Sweets, lentils, beans and rice were found in the cupboards.