A young producer took her own life after her mental health ‘settled’ following a series of family tragedies, including her mother being victimized by David Fuller and her grandmother being killed by her boyfriend.
Jay Carr, 20, was suffering from mental health problems when he was told by police that his mother had been abused by the necrophiliac after her death in 2015.
His sister Ashley, speaking outside County Hall after the inquest today, revealed their family had been rocked by a series of tragic events, including the death of her mother and her grandmother being killed by her partner.
Jay was 13 when his teacher mother, Jordana Carr, killed herself while talking to her ex-boyfriend on Facetime. Jordana suffered from mental health issues after her mother Maria Colaco was murdered by her boyfriend on New Year’s Eve 2009.
According to Ashley, Jay took their deaths ‘very badly’. Her mental health ‘suffers’ and Jay becomes ‘obsessed with David Fuller, and what he did to our mother’s body’.
Fuller was sentenced in December 2021 to two full life sentences for the 1987 murders of Wendy Kennell and Caroline Pearce in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
He was given an equivalent sentence of 12 years for sex offenses against 78 dead women at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and the former Kent and Sussex Hospital between 2008 and 2020.
Jay Carr, 20, suffered mental health problems after being told by police that his mother had been abused by double murderer Fuller after her death.
Fuller was sentenced in December 2021 to two full life sentences for the 1987 murders of Wendy Kennell and Caroline Pearce in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Her body was discovered by police in a wooded area near her home in Snodland, Kent, on September 20 after she went missing the previous day.
His mother, Jordana Carr, died when Jay was 13 and, according to Ashley, took it ‘very badly’. Jordana is pictured above
Jay’s family believes his mother should not have told him about Fuller’s victimization due to his existing mental health issues.
Her body was discovered by police in a wooded area near her home in Snodland, Kent, on September 20 after she went missing the previous day.
At an inquest at County Hall in Maidstone today, a coroner was told the 20-year-old was distraught at the news of her mother’s fate.
Ashley said: ‘Our family has been through numerous tragedies over the years. Our mother Jordana Carr passed away in 2015. He was too young and he left a gap in our family.
‘Our mother died when my brother Jay was only 13. He took it very badly and struggled with serious mental health issues for several years.
As an adult, he is doing better. He had a stable job as a car valet, a loving girlfriend, a close relationship with Millie and her soccer team.
‘In October 2021 my father and I were informed that my mother’s body had been abused by David Fuller while under his care at Pembury Hospital.
‘We felt pressured by the police officers who informed us to inform Jay and his siblings. Despite informing the officers of Jay’s vulnerability, they insisted that he be told, as he was that night, in graphic detail.’
‘J’s mental health deteriorated over the next few months. She became obsessed with David Fuller, and what he had done to our mother’s body. Jay went missing on 17 September 2022.
‘Family, friends and police searched and Jay was found dead on September 20, having taken his own life.
‘If we can take anything away from this it’s hopefully some reflection on how the police will inform families of tragic events in the future.’
Jordana’s mother Miss Colaco was murdered in a brutal attack at her home on New Year’s Day 2010 when she was just 50 years old.
Her partner Andrew Gaffney was jailed for life in June 2010 and the court heard how his sickening attack on Miss Colaco left her as injured as a car crash victim.
Both deaths are understood to have caused great pain to the family.
Coroner James Dillon recorded a conclusion of suicide in Jay’s death.
After the hearing, Ashley went on to say how much Jay was loved by those who knew him, adding: ‘He was a great family man and his nieces and nephews really looked up to him.
‘Jay had exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and drive, was a keen sportsman and his loss leaves a heavy heart for many.’
Shahram Sharghi, a barrister representing her family, said a note left by Joy mentioned her death.
He told the court: ‘Jay took the death of her mother and the circumstances of her death extremely hard.
‘The information provided clearly had a significant impact that spread over the following months, leading to her taking her own life.
‘The family do not accept that their advice should have been to inform Jay and other family members.’
However, DS John Wheeler, one of Kent Police’s family liaison officers who delivered the news, said Joy’s father Danny agreed that his son should speak about Fuller’s abuse.
Through their lawyers, the family asked the coroner to make a descriptive conclusion.
But the coroner said the impact of the news Jay was given in 2021 was the cause of his death.
Coroner James Dillon said: ‘Suicide is the only appropriate conclusion I can draw.
‘Jay Carr committed suicide by hanging himself in Holly Hill Wood and was found dead on September 20, 2022.
‘His mental health has deteriorated since October when he learned about his late mother. It is the conclusion of suicide.’
Wendy Kennell (left) and Carolyn Pearce (right) were beaten and strangled by Fuller before being sexually assaulted.
Fuller escaped justice for more than 30 years after murdering 25-year-old Wendy Kennell and 20-year-old Caroline Pearce in Tunbridge Wells in 1987.
After Jay’s death, flowers and beer bottles were placed near the wood where his body was found.
The car valet and builder was described as a ‘ray of sunshine’ by friends, while teammates at Aylesford Football Club also paid tribute to the much-loved player, describing him as a ‘special person’ on and off the pitch.
A school friend of Jay’s said: ‘Jay loved to laugh in the pub with his mates.
‘I never saw him down, he always had a smile on his face. He was a ray of sunshine.’
In memory of Jay, a charity football match is being played Ide Hill Select XV will play Jay Carr Select XV at Snodland Town Football Club on July 23rd to raise money for West Kent Mind.
Police discovered that Fuller had sexually assaulted the bodies of at least 102 women and children while working as a hospital electrician.
But the now 68-year-old’s gruesome crimes came to light after he was linked to one of Britain’s longest unsolved double murders more than 30 years ago.
He was jailed for life after admitting murdering Wendy Kennell, 25, and waitress Caroline Pearce, 20, in December 2021.
Fuller was linked to a 30-year-old cold case by a DNA breakthrough during a police investigation that then revealed to police morbid recordings of his own cadaver abuse.
Between 2008 and 2020, Fuller sexually assaulted more than 100 female bodies, aged between nine and 100, at a hospital morgue controlled by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
An independent inquiry is currently investigating how Fuller was able to carry out his crimes undetected.
For confidential help call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, visit www.samaritans.org for details
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