Inquest finds that woman drowned

Sunday 06 September 2020

A 56-year-old woman, whose body was found at Fisherman's Beach in Herm earlier this year, drowned at sea, an inquest into her death has concluded.

Sarah Tullier was reported missing by her husband on 11 March and her body was located at 09:15 the following morning.

The inquest heard that Mrs Tullier had a history of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, which were thought to be work-related. She had worked for the States for more than 30 years, but was made redundant in 2016  and was "never the same after that", according to her husband.

However, Mrs Tullier had been gradually coming off her antidepressants and described herself as "really well" during her last GP appointment in January. It's believed she had stopped taking her medication altogether at the time of her death.

On the morning of 11 March, Mrs Tullier told her husband she was going shopping after work and might also visit her mother.

Pictured: Police put out a missing person appeal for Mrs Tullier prior to her body being found. 

At around 17:00, she walked back to her car at the Model Yacht Pond with a colleague, who later said Mrs Tullier "didn't seem herself". The colleague asked whether she had any plans for the weekend, to which she replied that she was supposed to be seeing friends but wasn't sure whether she wanted to.

Mrs Tullier's husband attempted to call her multiple times at around 19:30, with no answer. He then began searching for her, starting at her mother's house and moving on to coastal carparks.

At 23:30, he found her car at La Vallette where it was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. A few personal belongings were also found in the vehicle, including her handbag and mobile phone. Shortly afterwards, Mr Tullier contacted the police and reported his wife missing.

In the early hours of the following morning, police officers examined Mrs Tullier's iPad, on which they found internet searches relating to methods of suicide. Messages with a friend were also found, in which Mrs Tullier said she was "just feeling a bit down".

An inquest into her death opened on 22 April, but it was adjourned pending police reports.

Following further investigation, no evidence has been found of third party involvement in Mrs Tullier's death.

Judge Gary Perry concluded that her death had been a result of drowning at sea and extended the court's deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Pictured top: An inquest in Guernsey's Magistrate's Court found that Mrs Tullier drowned at sea.