A 43-year-old mother from Swindon, Jemma Hart, was found lifeless in her home in January 2024, approximately a month after she was last seen.
Police discovered her body following a welfare check requested by her neighbor, Lorraine, who became concerned after hearing Hart’s dogs barking for an extended period.
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Concern Grows After Silence
Lorraine, 66, recounted the events that led to the discovery, telling the Daily Mail, "It was the dogs that caused me to go round there. I knocked on the door because I could hear the dogs barking but there was no answer.
"So, I tried the key she had given me but I couldn't unlock the door because there was a key on the inside of the lock."
Unsure of what to do, she hesitated before deciding to call the police.
Authorities later found Hart in her living room. A coroner ruled her death as suicide, with no signs of foul play. Tragically, one of her two dachshunds was also found dead beside her, while the other was in a distressed state.
Struggles Before Her Death
In the weeks leading up to her death, Hart had gone through personal hardships, including a breakup with her long-term boyfriend. Lorraine noted, "She had a boyfriend who was very good to her. But he called the police on her when he said he was going to leave her. He left about four months later, at around Christmas 2023."
Neighbors and friends were shocked to learn of her struggles, as she was known as a kind and friendly person. "Jemma was a lovely woman and everyone who knew her around here would agree," said one neighbor. "She always had time to stop and chat. She was just an all-round wonderful person."
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Dogs’ Disturbing Role in the Discovery
When police entered the home, they found that Hart’s dachshunds had begun eating her body after her death. Lorraine explained that Hart had originally planned to breed her dogs, stating, "Jemma told me she was going to breed her dachshunds and sell the puppies."
However, she described the dogs' personalities differently, saying, "The brown one, Milly, was still a puppy [and] was a lovely dog. But the black one, Frankie, was vicious. He didn't like people or other dogs."
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Community Left in Shock
Many neighbors expressed regret for not realizing Hart was struggling. One neighbor admitted, "None of us had any real idea that she had mental health problems. We just knew her as a friendly local who we would see out and about most days walking her dogs."
Hart’s son shared the news of her passing on social media, writing, "After spending the last couple of weeks to even process what we're about to share. It's with great sadness to say that my beautiful mum Jemma passed away January 29 unexpectedly and I wanted to inform you all," signing the tribute as "Jem’s Boys & Family."
Messages of condolences poured in, with one friend writing, "Your mum was a lovely woman I'm so sorry for your loss," while another said, "Very sad to hear this news, I had many good moments with Jem."
Final Thoughts
Hart had lived in her home for about ten years and had faced several health challenges, including mobility issues and chronic pain. Her physical difficulties forced her to stop working, contributing to her emotional distress.
Neighbors now say her tragic death has brought the community closer. "We've become much closer as a result of her death and now we will stop and talk to each other," said one resident. "I guess we're kind of checking in on each other and making sure everybody's okay."
Hart’s death has been recorded as suicide, and police confirmed it is not being treated as suspicious.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.