In 2021, Shirley Nunn, 67, and her son Steven, 50, were found dead in their home in Middlesborough, England—a tragedy that an investigation later revealed might have been preventable.
In October 2021, Shirley received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Although this news was devastating, her greater concern was how her son, Steven, would manage without her. Steven had been under her full-time care ever since he suffered a severe accident at age 11, which left him comatose, caused major brain damage, and resulted in lasting disabilities. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, facing ongoing challenges with learning, mobility, and emotional control.
After the death of her husband from cancer, Shirley became Steven’s sole support, assisted by adult social care services that had been involved in his care since 2005. Despite being diagnosed with stage three lung cancer later in 2021—which quickly spread to her brain, spine, and pelvis—Shirley continued caring for her son. Although plans were made for her to pass away at home, she battled deep depression and even had suicidal thoughts, as she was more troubled by the future care of her son than her own failing health. A Domestic Homicide Review noted that she broke down in tears on several occasions as her condition worsened.
In October 2021, after being hospitalized again for cancer-related complications and with palliative care arranged at home, Shirley was discharged. Tragically, just two days later, her sister called the police, and both Shirley and Steven were found dead—exactly two years after her husband Paul died of cancer.
The subsequent investigation revealed that authorities had missed critical opportunities to provide Shirley with the support she desperately needed. The report concluded that the severity of her cancer should have prompted equal attention to her mental and emotional well-being, as well as her physical health. It suggested that, feeling there was no viable alternative for ensuring Steven’s future care, Shirley may have made the heart-wrenching decision that led to their deaths.
This tragic case raises profound questions about how we support individuals facing overwhelming challenges and whether more robust mental health services for caregivers could help prevent such outcomes.
