CBBC child star killed herself ‘by mistake’ after TV suicide scene
A CBBC child star who was “stressed” by her GCSES hanged herself in “spur-of-the-moment silliness” after she watched a film that featured a suicide scene, an inquest heard.
Mya-lecia Naylor, 16, who starred in Almost Never and Millie Inbetween, was found dead by her mother Zena at the family home in South Norwood, south London, on April 7 this year.
Martin Naylor, her father, told Croydon coroner’s court that his daughter may have died while “possibly trying to make a point”, which came after she was grounded for leaving the house without permission.
The inquest heard that the night before the teenager’s death the family watched a film in which a cartoon character took their own life.
But Toby Watkin, the coroner, ruled her death was misadventure after noting Mya-lecia did not intentionally kill herself. The inquest was told that she was struggling at school and was stressed about her GCSES, but she was looking forward to shooting another series of Almost Never.
Rebecca Andrews, a toxicologist, confirmed there was no drugs or alcohol found in her body after she died and police confirmed there was no talk of self-harm or suicide on her social media.
Her GP also confirmed that Mya-lecia had no significant illness and was considered in very good health.
Mr Naylor told the court: “Mya was due to go back to shoot the second series of Almost Never. She was excited. She did like school. She seemed to be quite happy. She left the house without permission the week before, so we grounded her. The school had also called regarding her grades. She was very clever, but she could be doing better. She said a month before she was stressed about her exams. We had gone out for a daddy-daughter day the day after and she seemed better for it.
“The night before, all five of us were in bed watching movies. She was supposed to be going to a party that night but understood as she was grounded she had to do revision.”
Mr Watkin asked him: “I believe in the statement there is a fear the movie you watched may have had something relevant?”
Mr Naylor replied: “They were watching a cartoon. I’m not sure what it was as my wife wrote the statement.”
The assistant coroner added: “I understood it contained a scene in which someone takes their own life?” He replied: “I’d not seen it as I fell asleep half an hour in. I can’t confirm that. But I know after that scene, she said ‘Well, that’s enough now’ and shut it off and said it was time to go to sleep.”
Mr Naylor said he last saw his daughter at 7.30am on April 7 when he woke to go for a run, adding he could tell she was unhappy. Just two hours later, the girl’s mother discovered her.
He added: “I do not believe she would see something and then want to re-enact it. She never talked about harming herself. She was possibly trying to make a point. I honestly believe, maybe because she was grounded, but I believe she didn’t mean it. I believe it was a spur-of-the-moment silliness.”
Mya-lecia was pronounced dead at 11.30am at Croydon University hospital that day. Mr Watkin said: “I find she did not intend to her own life. By all probabilities, she died by misadventure.”