Author badly decomposed body found 4 months after she had landed publishing deal

Helen Gradwell, 39, lay dead for FOUR months after taking too much of the strong painkiller Tramadol to treat her debilitating hemiplegic migraines, an inquest heard.

Among the post piled up behind the front door was a letter from a London publisher accepting her first novel, The Nature’s Spirits.

The inquest heard that Christmas decorations were still up at her home and analysis of her phone revealed she had last used it to send a text message to a friend cancelling a meeting on December 30 last year.

Assistant coroner Timothy Brennand was told by police investigating officer DI Jonathan Kelly that her two beloved pet dogs had also died in the same room. Mirror UK reported.

Miss Gradwell had been dressed in her pyjamas at the time of her death and it is thought she had been sleeping on the sofa as there was a quilt and pillow.

Empty packets of Tramadol capsules were found and it was suggested that Miss Gradwell may have taken too much of the drug in a bid to relieve her migraine pain.

Miss Gradwell sent a synopsis and the first three chapters of her book to the publisher and her family believe she completed the 37,000-word book, but they have been unable to find it.

“We know it must be out there somewhere. If we found it, we would love to publish it” said her step-mother Mrs Gradwell.

ALSO READ: See all the beautiful books Nigerians are reading on Twitter