The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed that 2 officers could face misconduct action over their dealings with a 23-year-old woman just hours before she died, with an inquest opened and adjourned into the sudden death in Cowes.
Patricia Butcher, from Ryde, died at a property on Elm Grove during the very early hours of 20th August this year.
Emergency services, including the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, were called to the scene just before midnight, but there was nothing they could do to save her life.
For around a week after the woman’s death, officers maintained a presence on Elm Grove, with forensic investigators seen coming and going. The death was initially treated as unexplained.
Now, an inquest into her death has been formally opened at the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court.
A post-mortem examination has given the provisional cause of death as the toxic effects of mixed depressant drugs. Alcohol, methadone, ketamine and diazepam were all found in Patricia’s system.
It has emerged that police officers had attended an address on 19th August in response to concerns for Ms Butcher’s welfare. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that 2 officers could face gross misconduct action, with their decision-making around her medical needs under scrutiny.
A mandatory referral was made to the IOPC by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary following Miss Butcher’s death due to previous police contact with the 23-year-old.
Separate to the contact on 19th August, Island Echo understands Miss Butcher had been arrested just days before her death in connection with a stabbing in Ryde – and was on bail.
The IOPC investigation remains ongoing. It has not yet been confirmed whether any disciplinary action will follow.
The inquest, opened on Friday (5th December) has been adjourned.
Typical of this country now; blame everyone except the one with whom all the responsibility lay.
Scraping the barrel with this one
Sounds like one less problematic person we haven’t got to worry about or pay for anymore…
What a vile, callous, attitude you have
you must be such a wonderful person to know,..
I’m so glad I don’t know you (and hopefully never will)
I feel sorry for anyone that does..
This young woman may have had issues (perhaps exacerbated by people with attitudes like yours),.. but she was also someone’s daughter / granddaughter (maybe partner, maybe even mother)
Would you still make the same comment if she was a relative of yours ??
That’s such a horrible thing to say . That’s someone’s daughter a loved member of the family . She was young and going through clearly a hard time what a hateful judgemental comment
@ISLANDECHO Think you’ve mistaken the poor girl with a character from Eastenders