Teen bar worker, 18, killed herself in hotel after writing ‘goodbye letters’ on phone and ‘suicide note’ on Instagram
A TEEN bar worker killed herself after writing ‘goodbye letters’ on her phone and a ‘suicide note’ on Instagram, an inquest heard.
Ria Michelle Cooper, 18, was found hanged in a hotel room after a night out with friends in Manchester.
Ria, who worked as a bartender at G-A-Y, was admitted to hospital less than two weeks before her death following a painkiller overdose.
She did not tell her parents and discharged herself after two days as she “wanted to work that night”.
In the days that followed, she wrote several ‘goodbye letters’ in the notes section of her phone.
She also made death-related internet searches and posted a ‘suicide note’ on Instagram, Bolton Coroners’ Court heard.
Her friends said she had given away some of her clothes and had referenced wanting to be dead, but did not think she was being serious.
The teen had been living with a friend from work, Hannah Jordan.
She described Ria as her “best friend”, but said the pair became “romantic” in the days leading up to the tragedy.
In a statement read in court, Ms Jordan said the pair planned a night out together and booked into the Ainscow Hotel on March 5 this year.
They went to several clubs in the Gay Village, including G-A-Y.
Ms Jordan said Ria took cocaine but did not really drink during the night.
The court heard Ms Jordan spoke with her friend Lola Smith who told her she needed “time away” from Ria.
Ms Jordan told Ria she would not be staying with her at the hotel and asked another friend, Charlie Clarke, to look after her.
Mutual friend Shellby Wolstencroft had a ‘heart-to-heart’ with Ria, before Mr Clarke drove them to the hotel at 5.30am.
In a statement, Ms Wolstencroft said she chatted to Ria for a couple of hours before leaving at 7.20am.
Ria said she was going to see her friend Jake Moon but she did not visit him, he said in a statement.
Ms Wolstencroft said she asked Ria if she was going to be okay but she did not say anything concerning, the court heard.
A number of Ria’s friends said they became worried after she posted an apparent suicide note on Instagram.
At around 8.45am, the hotel’s general manager Paul Wadsworth knocked on the door of room 316 and found Ria hanged.
She was pronounced dead at 9am.
A toxicology report found there was no trace of alcohol in Ria’s blood and the concentration of cocaine was consistent with recreational use.
Acting senior coroner for Manchester West Alan Walsh recorded the death as suicide by asphyxia due to strangulation by ligature.
Mr Walsh said: “She was obviously very intelligent, very capable, competent and she had immense potential in regards to her future.
“It’s a great tragedy and sadness that she should die without that potential ever being realised.”
Ria’s parents spoke about their heartbreak following the hearing.
Mum Maria Flynn said: “She was the most loved, wanted child in the world.
“She was so intelligent and so funny. Me and her dad always said she was too intelligent and funny not to be famous.
“She was a little drama queen but she was the most loving daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin and niece.
“She was just proper amazing, so beautiful and brilliant. Every day that goes by hurts more and more.”
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Dad Gary Cooper added: “I miss her everyday. She’s the most precious person in the world to me.
“Everyone’s absolutely heartbroken.”
Ria’s granddad Frank also paid tribute and said: “I loved her so much and every day without her gets worse and worse.
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Nan Debbie added: “She was a caring, beautiful granddaughter, she is missed and loved by all her family.”
- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 16123.
