Mansfield woman tragically took her own life aged 61 amid difficult personal circumstances

Elke Schluter was discovered by her ex-wife on the sofa in their four-bed home on Sandringham Road, Forest Town, and she was pronounced dead by paramedics at 4.36am on March 20 last year.

Sarah Wood, assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire, said Elke had left a note for her former partner on her bed but “she didn’t think anything would happen that time.”

When she realised the living room lights were still on at 4am, she found Elke unresponsive in the living room and raised the alarm.

Detective Sergeant Nathan Bingham, of Nottinghamshire police, said Elke’s note referred to her feeling “beaten physically and mentally” and requested that her dogs be put to sleep by the vet, and that she be cremated.

He said their relationship broke down and they agreed to separate in December 2024, but they continued to remain in the address.

He confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances or any signs of third party involvement.

There was nothing in the search history of her phone to indicate what she was going to do, DS Bingham said, and noted she had received a letter from a debt collection agency to whom she owed £898.

The coroner said Elke was previously diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality order and depression.

Her final consultation with her GP Elke had requested a letter of support to obtain council housing for her and her dogs.

The inquest heard she was low in mood because of her housing situation and had been given notice to vacate the property on March 31.

On Wednesday, September 16, the coroner said she accepted the pathologist's findings on the cause of Elke’s death.

She added that Elke’s low mood was likely to have been exacerbated by stress and she was struggling with impending homelessness.

A conclusion of suicide was recorded and the coroner expressed her sincere condolences to Elke’s family and friends.