The family of a Tiverton man who was found hanging in woodland close to the shell of his burned-out car just nine days after the birth of his fourth child have voiced concerns about what happened before his death. Richard Ayre, described as being a loving father and a 'good person', was found passed away in a secluded wooded area of the town on June 17, 2022.
A missing persons investigation was launched earlier that day after fire crews told police they had attended a car fire by a farm in Pennymore which was later confirmed as arson. What was thought to be the 35-year-old's mobile phone was found in the wreckage and later that day his body was located by police nearby in dense woodland.
An inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court today, August 31, heard Mr Ayre, who was born in Tiverton and was an agricultural worker, had a history of depression and had been prescribed medication which he stopped when he met his current partner, stating he was "feeling better".
Read more: Young man tragically died in Torquay car crash that almost killed younger brother
However, in July 2020, his partner suffered a miscarriage which was said to have greatly affected Mr Ayre, causing him to turn to using illicit substances regularly. He sought help from his GP in February 2021, and made an attempt to end his life that summer.
His mood was said to have improved by the autumn, helped by gaining farming work out of the area and his partner falling pregnant again. When he moved back home after the work contract ended, his partner said he had struggled to get back into family life and it became apparent he was taking drugs again.
The last time she saw him alive was when he left their home on the evening of June 16, 2022, saying he was going to pick someone up but failed to return home. The inquest heard it was not unusual behaviour and that his partner only became concerned for his welfare when police reported having found his burned-out car the next day.
In a statement read out during the inquest, she said: "He could be so lovely and caring. The whole thing is out of character."
His former partner, the mother of three of his children, said in a statement that he had not struggled with his mental health when they had been together and she had not known him to take drugs.
She said: "He was a lovely dad. His kids loved him and he loved them too." She added: "It does not seem like Richard to do what he has done. He said he would never do that. I'm very shocked by what has happened."
A friend who saw Mr Ayre on the evening before he died said in a statement how he had been 'happy and chirpy' before he left at around 11pm.
He described him as a good person, a people pleaser and someone who would do anything for anyone, but had low self-esteem. He said: "I never expected him to take his own life. I didn't think he had it in him to do anything like that."
A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of his death was asphyxia due to hanging and that he had taken a large amount of cocaine prior to his death. No self-defence marks on other suspicious injuries were found.
Following his death, a police investigation confirmed they were satisfied there was nothing suspicious about his death and an end of life note was found in his trouser pocket.
Shatter the Silence
The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage anyone struggling to reach out and talk - to either a friend, relative, charity or a professional. Our campaign content will highlight just how important talking is and the difference it can make.
Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Devon. We will highlight where to get help and show how talking has helped people come through difficult times in their lives. We will speak to families who have lost loved ones to look at the lasting impact of suicide and attempt to dismiss the inaccurate belief many people who are struggling manifest that they are a burden on the ones they love. We will look at the devastation caused to those left behind in the hope that even one reader might change their mind if they have considered taking their own life.
We will speak to people who have survived a suicide attempt and have accessed counselling or other mental health services to show that things can get better. We will speak to Samaritans volunteers about their vital work in Devon and how they are on hand 24-7 to listen. And we will offer guidance on what to say to someone who is struggling so people feel more confident to have that conversation.
Do you have a relevant story to share? Email emma.slee@reachplc.com.
WHERE TO GET HELP:
SAMARITANS offers support in a range of ways, including a self-help app, email support or by calling 116 123 for free 24 hours a day
NHS Offers advice on how to access mental health support
TALKWORKS is a free-to-access NHS service offering a variety of treatment and support for adults (aged 18+) living in Devon (excluding Plymouth)
CALM offer a free, confidential helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat, 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life's problems
HUB OF HOPE is a mental health support database that can signpost you to local support services
ANDY'S MAN CLUB offers men a chance to talk with like-minded people. They have clubs in Devon as well as nationally
KOOTH & QWELL provides free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support, including moderated peer support forums and text-based counselling, to all residents living in Devon (aged 11+)
PETE'S DRAGONS provide free-to-access support to all residents living in Devon who may have been bereaved by suicide at any point in their lives
THE MOORINGS is an emotional support service that provides telephone and face-to-face support via a drop-in service at its bases in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay. It is a non-clinical service but provides emotional support, signposting to other services and other general support that is tailored to the people who access it.
.
The inquest heard a local farmer had seen a man on the phone by the boot of a car at 9.30am at the location where Mr Ayre's car was found. However, he was unable to give a description of the man and phone records showed the last phone activity on his mobile had been at 5.55am.
Mr Ayre's mother said: "For him to torch his car is so out of character. It's the one thing that makes us think the person seen on the phone was not our son."
Det Sgt Charles Wilkes conceded police had initially been concerned about the burned-out car in relation to his death but were 'very confident' the person the farmer had seen was Mr Ayres. The last call on his phone was from an untraceable pre-paid mobile which was said to be usually used by people involved in drug dealing.
DS Wilkes said: "The burned-out car was very strange indeed and is one reason he was elevated to a high-risk missing person. We were unable to determine who set the car on fire but we strongly suspect it was Mr Ayres himself."
He added: "He had recently taken a large recreational dose of cocaine which would have impacted on his thinking at the time. There was no evidence of third-party involvement."
Recording a conclusion of suicide following a deterioration in his mental health, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Exeter and Great Devon, said: "I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, Richard had taken his own life that day and intended to do so based on his history of depression and anxiety, a previous attempt to end his life, the location where he was found which is clearly one anyone is unlikely to be found quickly, and the fact an end of life note was located on him."
