Inquest reveals two of the Bridgend Suicides were linked

An inquest into the Bridgend Suicides has found that two of the deaths were connected confirming the beliefs that at least some of the deaths were linked.

Over the last year 17 young people in the area have taken their lives with the most recent being Jenna Parry who was found hanging in a woods just five miles from the Welsh town.

While many of the victims knew eachother it wasn’t clear if any of the suicides were directly linked.

Today an inquest heard that the suicide of Leigh Jenkins last June was connected to that of his best friend, Allyn Price, who had hung himself not long before that.

Leigh’s mother said in a statement that her son claimed he was constantly plagued by his friend’s image and had expressed wishes for them to "be together". According to the Daily Mail, coroner Philip Walters recorded a narrative verdict after hearing that Mr Jenkins was three times the drink-drive limit and had illegal amphetamines in his system when he died.

"Leigh Jenkins hung himself while under the influence of alcohol, MDMA and MDA and the cause of death is, as given, asphyxia due to a ligature around the neck," said Mr Walters.

All 17 of the young people hung themselves. Some people have associated the suicides with social networking sites such as Bebo, as they think the memorial pages on these sites romanticises suicide and that young people see it as a way to become famous.

Jan 5, 2007 : Dale Crole, 18, found hanged in a disused warehouse near Bridgend.

Feb 18, 2007 : David Dilling, 19, was a friend of Dale’s. He was found dead near his home having hung himself.

Feb 25, 2007 : Thomas Davies, 20, who knew both Crole and Dilling, hangs himself.

April, 2007 : Allyn Price, 21, hangs himself in his room.

May 17, 2007 : James Knight, 26, found hanging at his home in near Bridgend.

June, 2007 : Price’s best friend, Leigh Jenkins, hangs himself.

Aug 11, 2007 : Zachery Barnes, 17, found hanging from a washing line. Zachery was a friend of the Davies’ family.

Aug 23, 2007 : Jason Williams, 21, hung himself.

Sept, 2007 : Andrew O’Neill, 19, found hanging in his Bridgend home.

Nov 2007 : Luke Goodridge, 20, is also found hanging in his home.

Dec 27, 2007 : Liam Clarke, 20, a friend of Dale Crole, found hanged in a Bridgend park.

Jan 2008 : Gareth Morgan, aged 27 and a friend of Liam Clarke is found hanging in his home.

Jan 17, 2008 : Natasha Randall, hangs herself in her bedroom.

Feb 4, 2008 : Angie Fuller, 18, found hanging near Bridgend.

Feb 14, 2008 : Kelly Stephenson, 20, from Bridgend hangs herself while on holidays with her parents.

Feb 15, 2008 : Nathaniel Pritchard, 15, Kelly’s cousin who lived just a few doors away dies after his life support machine is switched off. He also attempted to hang himself.