The mother of a teenager who died in a suspected suicide pact with his girlfriend has revealed he had previously attempted to take his own life. Jack Williams, 18, and Katherine Powell, 17, who shared an infant child, were found dead at Bothenhampton reservoir near Bridport, Dorset, on 25 January 2022.
At an inquest in Bournemouth, it was heard that the couple had been arrested on suspicion of possessing an indecent image of a child six days before their deaths. Jack's mother, Debbie Williams, said her son was a 'much-loved baby' but felt rejected by his father after the couple separated when he was a year old.
By age 10, Jack became disruptive, and in 2016 showed signs of ADHD and autism. He took an overdose in 2017 at age 14 after the family moved to Leamington Spa. Ms Williams said she struggled to get help from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) after he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and anxiety.
Jack met Katherine at Kenilworth School, and Ms Williams described her as 'very polite' and said it was 'lovely to see Jack smiling'. However, his behaviour escalated, and he began using cannabis. He attempted suicide in a nature reserve in 2018 and took another overdose in January 2019.
Ms Williams said she felt social services blamed her parenting rather than helping. She made the 'difficult decision' for Jack to enter foster care but maintained contact. After a disagreement in July 2021, she decided to wait for him to reach out. She was not informed of suicide concerns when the couple disappeared on 24 January, and learned of his death the next day.
Jack's father, Mark Williams, said his son was the 'apple in my eye' and revealed Jack confessed to cannabis use and self-harm due to depression but declined GP help.
