Dad took his own life as chat group watched online
AFATHER live-streamed his own death to an online chatroom linked to the deaths of two other British men, an inquest heard yesterday.
Leon Jenkins, 43, was found hanged in his living room after online users of video group chat site Paltalk raised the alarm while watching his broadcast.
An inquest heard the builder “lived part of his life online” and had anxiety and depression in the months before he took his own life.
Users from the USA, Canada and Australia contacted the administrator for the Canada-based website and alerted police in south Wales, who forced their way into Mr Jenkins’ home in Elm Street, Roath, Cardiff, around 8am on July 25.
Pc Phillip Coleman told Pontypridd Coroner’s Court officers could hear voices with American accents coming from Mr Jenkins’ computer while officers stood outside his locked door, with one voice asking “Is that real?” and a reply of “I don’t think so”.
Pc Coleman said Mr Jenkins was found “pale and was not breathing”.
He was given CPR by officers but he was declared dead at 8.13am.
Pc Carla Morris Griffiths said one online friend described Mr Jenkins as “eccentric”, which made viewers unable to tell whether his actions were “real or not”.
Assistant Coroner Rachel Knight said international police organisation Interpol failed to gather evidence of what happened from those who viewed Mr Jenkins’ live stream.
A toxicology report showed that Mr Jenkins had normal levels of prescription medication in his blood plus cannabis and 211mg of alcohol, with 80mg being the legal drinkdrive limit, which would have caused “marked drunkenness”.
Phone records showed Mr Jenkins’ last outgoing call was made at 6.30am to Gina Baker, from Tennessee, USA – his girlfriend despite the pair never meeting in person.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Colston said that he investigated the scene of death and determined there were no suspicious circumstances.
The hearing was told Ms Baker did not witness his death nor did she have any knowledge of anyone “encouraging” him to take his own life.
DS Colston also said contact was made with an individual who called himself Verne, but who refused to give any further details through the site’s administrators.
DS Colston said the man “strenuously denied” that Mr Jenkins had been encouraged to take his own life.
Miss Knight said: “Leon Jenkins was a loved son, father and indeed a friend – greatly missed by many.”
She added: “He did live life in reality but he did live part of that online and spent quite a lot of his time online.”
She said concerns have previously been raised that Paltalk was an “unhelpful website” following the deaths of two other British men who were also known to have used it.
But she said there was no evidence of any goading of Mr Jenkins online, adding: “I haven’t seen anything to make me believe he was being encouraged.”
Miss Knight added: “He was arguing with his girlfriend Gina in the US. I’m sure nothing could have been done here to prevent his death.
“I find it more likely than not that he intended to end his own life. The act was planned, deliberate, selfinflicted and did bring on his death.”
The coroner said a medical cause of death had been given as hanging, and recorded a verdict of suicide.
■ For mental health support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org