Tragedy as married couple found dead in suicide pact

An inquest has heard how a married couple were found dead alongside their pet dogs in a double suicide pact. Cassie Collins, 35, and Francis Collins, 36, had both been struggling with challenges in their life. They were discovered by a family member after becoming concerned for their welfare.

The pair had lived in west Wales before Francis was jailed for throwing homemade firebombs onto a neighbour’s drive following a civil dispute over the ownership of a piece of land. The couple then relocated to Devon in late 2020. An inquest into their deaths, held at Exeter’s Coroners Court, were said to have a very close relationship and were “really good together and joined at the hip”, DevonLive reports.

On September 11, the pair were found dead at their home in Station Road, Cullompton. In the period leading up to the tragedy, the couple had carried out a number of pre-planned actions – including creating a joint will, sending letters and emails, and having two of their dogs put to sleep. A coroner was told that following the launch of a new police investigation against Francis, the couple were said to have been worried about everything being taken away from them.

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Cassie, who was born in Exeter, was said to have endured many years living in chronic pain due to knee and shoulder injuries that left her unable to work and often bedbound. She was said to be under the care of a pain management team and told her physiotherapist she felt “trapped in a cage”.

She had been referred to NHS service Talkworks and was discharged in August 2021 after reporting she did not have suicidal plans. She was said to enjoy knitting, crochet, playing with her nephews and spending time with her dogs.

Francis, who was born in Hereford, was said to have been diagnosed with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while living in the USA and had a long history of depression and anxiety, and had made an attempt to previously end his life. He was assessed by Talkworks in May 2021 as having severe psychotic depression with daily suicidal thoughts and was urgently referred to the NHS mental health team.

He told them how when he was 10, his father ended his life. He was noted to be suffering from ongoing back pain, financial stress and was worried about the ongoing police investigation. Francis was put under the care of the community mental health team and was awaiting an ADHD assessment.

Where you can get support for your mental health in Wales

Mind Cymru – mental health charity working across Wales to support people in their communities. Call the infoline on 0300 123 33 93 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm for information on mental health problems, where to get help near you, treatment options, advocacy services. Mind can also be contacted by email: [email protected]

Hafal – member-led charity supporting people with mental health problems, with a special emphasis on those with serious mental illness, and their carers and families. Phone: 01792 816 600/832 400 or email [email protected]

Beat Cymru – leading eating disorder charity offering support and guidance for people worried about their own or someone else’s health, support available 365 days a year on the Welsh helpline 0808 801 0433 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Community Advice & Listening Line (CALL) – Mental health helpline for people in Wales which offers emotional support and information for anyone concerned about their own mental health or a friend/family member’s mental health. Call 0800 13 27 37 or text ‘help’ to 81066

Samaritans – For confidential support, Samaritans can be contacted around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123

All information correct at time of publication – if you’d like a Mental Health service to be added, or amended, on this list email WalesOnline reporter Molly Dowrick: [email protected]

Cassie’s mum Deborah Coombes told how Cassie and Francis had begun living together in Exeter and then moved to Chelmsford where Cassie did her nurse training. However, just weeks before she was due to finish she caused further damage to an existing knee injury while exercising.

She was not able to work again afterward or complete her training. After moving to Thailand the couple were involved in a moped accident and both injured their backs.

Deborah said: “Since then is when her really significant pain started. She spent most of her time in bed in agony. She described it as like rubbing sand into a cut all the time.”

She added: “She regularly rang in tears about being unable to cope with the pain.”

The couple then moved to Wales where the neighbour dispute took place. They relocated to be with Cassie’s family before Christmas 2020 after Francis served eight months in prison.

She said she had been aware Cassie had struggled with suicidal thoughts but hoped she would not act on them. She said it was her belief that the culmination of pain she was in, their “troubles” in Wales and the latest police investigation had led to her death.

Mrs Coombes said: “I can 100 per cent say Francis wouldn’t have killed her. They were devoted and soulmates and he said if anything happened to Cassie he would kill himself as she was everything to him.”

The inquest heard that in the lead-up to their deaths, the couple had carried out a number of pre-planned actions including creating a joint will, sending letters and emails, and having two of their dogs put to sleep.

Cassie’s sister Jodie told in a statement read out during the inquest how both Cassie and Francis had spoken in the past of wanting to end their lives. She then received a letter through the post from Cassie on September 11, 2021, in which she apologised for being unable to cope with the pain she was in anymore.

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After gaining entry into her home, Cassie was discovered lifeless in her bed cuddling three of their dogs – a chihuahua and two miniature pinschers – who were also deceased. Francis was found passed away in the hallway.

Jodie said: “Cassie had said a couple of years ago that if there were going to kill themselves they would kill the dogs as well as they wouldn’t want anyone else looking after them.”

The dogs were described as being like their ‘children’ because due to Cassie being in so much chronic pain she was not able to have children. Jodie said Cassie had previously spoken about not being able to live with the pain she was in and that the pending police investigation had left the couple ‘really low’.

She said: “I think this was the tipping point.”

A post-mortem examination stated the cause of Cassie’s death was the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and alprazolam. The cause of Francis’s death was asphyxia due to hanging. He was also found to have taken a substantial about of alprazolam which was ‘”likely” to have caused intoxication.

A police investigation confirmed there was no third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances surrounding their deaths. During a search of their home, a video of Cassie – dated September 8 – was recovered stating she was going to take her own life and that she would not be in pain anymore. End of life notes were also found in the property.

Recording a conclusion of suicide for both deaths, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Exeter and greater Devon, said: “I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, both Cassie and Francis have taken their own lives and intended to do so.”

Addressing their family, she said: “This is particularly tragic circumstances and I can’t imagine how it has been to deal with the loss of not one but of both of them.”

In March 2021, DevonLive reported how Francis, a former paratrooper, had moved from his eco smallholding to Devon for a fresh start after fire bombing his neighbours’ house.

Swansea Crown Court heard details of the attack by Francis after a row over a rural plot of land escalated into a campaign of “sinister” threatening emails and ended with a firebomb attack.

Both parties in the dispute had moved to Carmarthenshire in search of the good life. Francis pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress on the day he was due to stand trial.

The court heard he has six previous convictions for six offences. Francis had spent 202 days in prison on remand and then 46 days on an electronically monitored tag prior to his trial date, and the recorder said he intended to impose a sentence which meant he would be released imminently. Giving him a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea recorder Mills sentenced him to 425 days in prison

For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.

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