A woman found her husband’s body behind a shed in her garden after he was missing for two days. Amy Parry had reported her husband Ed missing after returning home to their house in Seasalter, near Whitstable, and finding no trace of him. Police began a search for Ed but Amy found her husband’s body after her dog led her to the back of the shed, reports Metro.
She said: “I never thought for one second he was on the property. I only found him because one of my dogs kept going behind the back there, and then it just dawned on me.” An inquest was held to determine how Ed came by his death. The 54-year-old, who was a plumber and musician, suffered a catastrophic wound to his left wrist while carrying out gardening work.
On April 21, Amy had returned home to find her youngest son at home alone with no sign of her husband.
She said: “He wasn’t answering his phone. It was literally like he’d been abducted. It was bizarre from the start. It didn’t add up at all.”
Amy reported him missing with searches carried out on the house. She told police Ed had been doing gardening work but was missing.
Police were carrying out door-to-door enquiries days later when Amy ran out of her house saying she had found her husband’s body between the shed and fence panels.
Coroner Sarah Clarke confirmed there was “evidence of gardening jobs being completed” and in the same area was a handheld chainsaw, which “could be seen to have blood-staining”. The Coroner said she was confident Ed did not take his own life.
An investigation by police found there were no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement.
The inquest was carried out on Maidstone on Wednesday where the coroner ruled the death as accidental.
Amy Parry said she raised concerns about the police investigation and the failure of officers to find her husband sooner, leaving her to eventually discover his body herself.
Chief Superintendent Rob Marsh said: “The findings established officers were professional, helpful, and provided regular updates to the family throughout, however it was found the extent of the initial search at this property could have been broader and further learning has been identified.
“As a result, changes have been made to missing person searches including additional supervision.
“The findings of the review have been shared with Mr Parry’s family. The force has also apologised and its thoughts remain with them following their loss.”
Amy said her husband “lived for music” and was the lead guitarist in local band The Laziathons, which has since said it cannot continue without him.