FRIENDS and family say they are "completely baffled" as to why a sociable and fun loving care worker took her own life following a relaxed evening with friends.

Kelly Marie Van Evelingen, 36, was found deceased in her house on Penarrow Close, Falmouth on the morning of February 16 last year. An inquest held virtually last week found that the cause of death was hanging and that Kelly took her own life.

On the morning she was found, Kelly's friends and family became concerned when they were unable to contact her and on forcing entry into the premises found her dead.

At the time of her death, the inquest was told that she was pregnant by a man she had been in a short relationship with and whom she described as "somewhat controlling" and "unpleasant".

When she told him she was pregnant and keeping the baby he had told her that he did not want children or a long term relationship and removed all his belongings from her house as he had a key. This included his cat which she had been looking after and had become very attached to. She had described this move to friends as "spiteful" as he knew how much she loved it and wanted to upset her.

Best friend Damien Solomon told the inquest he had known Kelly for 20 years. He described her as a real "salt of the earth" character with "impeccable morals" who enjoyed going out with her friends dancing and for a social drink.

He said on the evening before her death he had joined her at her friend's house where they were talking and drinking wine. They had gone back to hers together and carried on drinking and talking.

At around 2am she told him she was going upstairs to the toilet. When she didn't come down after ten minutes he went up and found her on the bed fully dressed. He didn't want to disturb her so he sent her a Facebook Messenger saying he was leaving.

"A friend later told me Kelly had taken her own life," said Mr Solomon. "This completely baffled me. I cannot think of any reason why she would have done this. The last time I spoke to her she gave no indication that this was something she was contemplating."

The inquest heard that she'd been upset and anxious about her job, which she loved, but was concerned about staffing levels and on the evening before her death had had a very long telephone conversation with her mother Susan Hughes.

But at the end of that call her mother described her as being much more positive and settled and her daughter's death had come as a "huge shock" to her. "She never mentioned suicide or taking her own life," she said in a written statement. "It would never have occurred to me." She said she was "devastated" by her daughter's death.

A toxicology report found that Kelly had "extremely high" levels of cocaine in her bloodstream when she died which itself was potentially lethal. Police said there was no sign of forced entry or third party involvement.

Recording a verdict of suicide, west Cornwall coroner Andrew Cox said he was conflicted over his decision.

"The problem I have with this inquest is that the evidence does not sit on all fours with those who had contact with her immediately beforehand and what is clear is that no-one anticipated or expected the turn of events that occurred on February 16," he said.

"Yes she had some problems, yes there were some difficulties she needed to work through, but nothing that gave even a suspicion that she was thinking of taking the course of action that she did. But I have to return a conclusion on the evidence."

He added: "It seems to me that Kelly has acted impulsively and was not anticipated and appears to be entirely out of character but given the evidence and the toxicology evidence it is far more likely than not that Kelly has taken her own life."

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