Family who fear Lancaster woman was murdered call for urgent law change

A family who believe a young Lancaster woman was murdered have called for urgent changes to laws on the investigation of unexplained deaths.

Katie Beattie was found dead at her flat in Lancaster on July 1 2024.

Her family is calling for 'Katie Beth's Law', and have set up an online petition appealing directly to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking to Beyond Radio, her sister Kellie Rhodes said Katie, 27, was found almost fully naked, wearing one sock, with bruises on her body.

Police say "there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate her death was a result of any criminality", and an inquest was unable to determine how she died.

But Kellie believes her sister was sexually assaulted, then injected with an illegal substance, between two of her toes, and wants the case reinvestigating.

Her petition has had more than 2,050 signatures.

Cat Smith, Lancaster MP, said "the family have had to constantly battle for answers, particularly regarding the police forensic investigation, post mortem, and concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death".

"We're going to keep fighting," said Kellie.

LISTEN to Kellie Rhodes talking about their campaign

"Katie was only 27 years old when she died, she had her whole life ahead of her.

"She was the most loving, caring, thoughtful and bubbly outgoing young woman. 

"She had the best personality, she was just funny. She had such a character and she always cared for others more than herself.

"It's just a shame that no-one afforded the same care for Katie that she gave for others, otherwise she may still be here today."

Katie Beattie, below.

Kellie said her sister was "a high risk vulnerable adult" with mental health and addiction issues, and the authorities should have taken better care of her.

"They failed Katie from the get-go," she said.

"Katie kept attending rehabs which we kept saying wouldn't work unless they got to the root of Katie's problems.

"Every single person who has ever been involved with Katie has failed her, and this has ultimately cost her, her life."

Kellie has also criticised the police for their investigation into her sister's death.

She said a neighbour sent the family ring doorbell footage of Katie entering her flat with a male, a few days before she was found dead, and the male was seen leaving the flat the day before her body was discovered.

After not hearing from Katie over the weekend, and concerned for her welfare, her family contacted the authorities.

Kellie said it took nine-and-a-half hours for anyone to visit Katie's home.

"We got the same reaction we always got from police and services, it was like Katie didn't matter," she said.

She said firefighters eventually broke the door down and found Katie dead at the end of her bed.

"As soon as I was informed of Katie's passing, I believed there was foul play straightaway," said Kellie.

"I showed a police officer the footage. I expressed all this in my police statement. But nobody was arrested, which was unbelievable, in the circumstances.

"I knew something had happened. We believe Katie was sexually assaulted and injected, between her toes.

"The reason we thought this, was initially because Katie was found with one sock on. She had disclosed in the past, that predators had injected her between her toes in the past, so we believed this has happened again.

"We asked the police if anyone had checked Katie over, before she was taken to the mortuary. We were told she had been checked.

"I attended the mortuary with my mum and auntie. We asked if they could check between Katie's toes, and we were told there was what looked like a puncture mark between her little toe and the toe next to it.

"I contacted the police, and they said they would look into it. I got a call back, and they said a Home Office post-mortem had now been agreed because of what we found.

"We were told this would take place nine days after Katie's passing. Because of the upset and the grief, we didn't think anything of the delay at the time, we didn't question it.

"But every single day, Katie's body was deteriorating. When the forensic post-mortem took place, the pathologist said it was a possible puncture mark, but couldn't say that it (definitely) was.

"A forensic post-mortem should have taken place straightaway.

"We need to fight for this change so it doesn't happen to anyone else, and we need to get justice for Katie.

"We want it reinvestigating. It's horrendous."

The family has made a complaint to the police professional standards department, and have also been seeking help from their local MP, Cat Smith.

Ms Smith, pictured below, said Katie's family has been in touch with her since 2020.

"The last decade has been a horrid time for the family as they helplessly saw Katie's health spiral from struggling mental health in 2013 into alcohol and substance use and coercive relationships, whilst desperately begging services for help," she said.

"In 2022 the family sought my assistance to challenge the decision by the Community Mental Health Team to discharge Katie from their service back into the community, and over the following two years Katie was in and out of hospital over a dozen times before her death last July.

"Following Katie's death I called for a multi-agency serious case review by Lancashire Police, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, and Lancashire County Council’s Adult Social Care Team. This resulted in a Rapid Learning Review and Patient Safety Incident Investigation, with Lancashire Safeguarding Adult Board working towards a Safeguarding Adult Review.

"But the family have had to constantly battle for answers, particularly regarding the police forensic investigation, post mortem, and concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death.

"I'm supporting the family with ongoing conversations with Lancashire Police professional standards, and hope that in time the family can get the answers they deserve in seeking justice for Katie's death."

Dr Gareth Thomas, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Safe and compassionate patient care is at the heart of what we do and following Katie’s death, we undertook both a rapid learning review and a more in-depth patient safety incident investigation to understand whether there was anything we could learn and improve as a result, so we can offer very best care to those we support.

"We ensured Katie’s family were included and kept updated on our findings.

“We also offered assurance to HM Coroner of the structures and joint partnership working in place in place within inpatient, community services and substance misuse services, such as Inspire, who we work alongside.

“We know that Katie’s death has been incredibly difficult for her family and so our thoughts remain with them and her loved ones at this time.”

Kellie's petition at Change.org says: "We demand that all deaths deemed unexplained or suspicious receive a full forensic examination within 24 hours and that bloods are taken upon arrival at the mortuary to allow for accurate toxicology results.

"Katie was a young woman aged just 27 years old when she sadly lost her life.

"Katie suffered from mental health for many years which subsequently led to addiction issues. Katie was also recognised as a highly vulnerable adult with a diagnosis of autism. 

"Katie in July 2024 was found deceased at her home address, almost fully naked, with injuries/bruises covering her body.

"Don’t let Katie’s memory be 'it’s just one of them unfortunately' which is what we got told on the night by an officer attending the scene.

"This tragic delay has not only denied Katie the justice she so rightly deserves but has also left us her family devastated and bereft of answers."

Appealing directly to Sir Keir Starmer, the petition continues:

"As a former Director of Public Prosecutions, you understand the importance of timely evidence in securing justice.

"We, the undersigned, urgently call on you to champion legislation that enshrines into law the requirement for all suspicious or unexplained deaths to receive a full forensic examination within 24 hours of discovery and that the bloods are taken and preserved immediately upon arrival at the mortuary. 

"This change will:

• Ensure crucial forensic evidence is preserved and collected in a timely manner.
• Will aid the investigation to identify persons who may have contributed to the death and aid the prosecution process of any person responsible for it.
• Ensure that the bloods are preserved so they remain accurate for toxicology results.
• Improve the accuracy and reliability of death investigations by the police so this allows His Majesty’s Coroner to have all available evidence to carry out his/her role to be able to reach a conclusion to the cause of death.
• Prevent future families from enduring unnecessary delays and uncertainty.
• Allow all people regardless of history to be treated equally with dignity and respect.
• Strengthen public trust in our justice system.

"Let Katie's story be the catalyst for reform.

"Let Katie be the last victim failed by delays in the currently poor investigation process conducted by police.

"Sign to demand justice and better protection for vulnerable lives, all lives matter regardless of the individual's background."

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Katie Beattie’s loved ones.

"We launched an investigation after Katie was sadly found deceased in her home in Lancaster on 1st July 2024.

"However, there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate her death was a result of any criminality.

"We acknowledge that a complaint has been made to our professional standards department, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time."

The coroner's verdict following an inquest held into Katie's death, which concluded on June 12, was: "It has not been possible on the available evidence to determine how Ms Beattie came by her death."