Harrowing words undertaker told family after beloved daughter, 29, dies

December 02, 2024
Harrowing words undertaker told family after beloved daughter, 29, dies

A picture of Kimberley McAssey in the family's living room brings back fond memories for her loved ones. It will be their fourth Christmas without her, and they are getting ready.

They had thought that the answers they have been seeking since February 2021 could have been found through an inquest into the 29-year-old's death. Sadly, Kimberley's family is still suffering as a result of the deeds of a man who purported to be her friend.

"How can you give a child answers when you haven't got them yourself?" Rea, a 30-year-old sister of Kimberley, told the Manchester Evening News. "There's no closure at all, and no dignity for Kim in her death."

A coroner concluded last week that the cause of Kimberley's death on the morning of February 20, 2021, was 'unascertained' due to difficulties with the post-mortem. Kimberley had gone to see Ryan Sheridan at his flat on Sherbourne Court, in Prestwich.

The court accounts from Sheridan about how the pair had a drink, before taking a quantity of MDMA (ecstasy), and moving to the bedroom for sexual intercourse. Coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded that Kimberley was 'virtually unresponsive' by the end of that activity.

Sheridan never called 999 for medical help or to notify emergency services of Kimberley's death. There was a 30-hour gap before his mum, Emma Heydon, eventually called 999 on February 21, 2021.

"If they had been contacted straight away then the inquest would have been able to determine the cause of Kim's death," said Rea. "The only reason they couldn't was because it was prolonged for so long."

Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley noting that her cause of death ‘could not be determined’ due to her post-mortem being affected by the delay to call emergency services.

The conclusion has left the family with unanswered questions over what happened. The coroner had noted Sheridan was the sole witness to the events of February 20, 2021, but he refused to attend the inquest.

"His self-serving cowardice, which persists to this day, demonstrates a blatant disregard for Kimberley," Ms Kearsley said.

Sheridan is currently at HMP Hindley, serving a 28-month sentence for Class A drug supply offences. Meanwhile, the coroner also noted concerns over the reliability of Ms Heydon's testimony.

Parts of the evidence heard have left the family with even more questions about what went on. Pathologist Dr Philip Lumb offered no cause of death due to the changes that had taken place to Kimberley's body before she could be examined at post mortem.

Harrowing words from undertaker
Her mum Karrie, 53, recalls harrowing words from the undertaker. "He said to me 'in all his 30 years as an undertaker, he'd never seen anybody so decomposed'," she said.

Karrie recalls the moment police first told her that Kimberley had died. "[The officer] walked into the kitchen. She said 'I've come to inform you of your daughter's death'. I said 'no, you've probably got someone wrong'. She said 'no I've got her bank card'."

Kimberley was a much-loved member of the family. She was a mum to Maddison, now 11, and an aunt to Max, now seven.

Kimberley and Max share the same birthday - something which his mum, Kimberley's sister Katie, describes as 'a gift'. Katie, 28, added: "He has one little memory of her. It just makes me sad."

Maddison is also 'struggling' to come to terms with what happened to her mum. "It's like it's getting worse as the years go on," said Katie. "She's asking questions we just can't answer."

Katie describes her big sister Kimberley as the 'most kind and caring person you could meet'. "We were sisters and best friends," she said. "The bond between us will never be broken no matter where she is.

"She always lit up my life with her precious laugh and her beautiful smile. Nothing will ever be the same without her, life just feels empty without her contagious smile."

Rea remembers how her sister was 'the one person that could find the funny in every situation'. Karrie added: "Kim was amazing, she was just loads of fun. She always lit up everybody. She was always smiling, she would help anybody."