Man's mental health declined before he killed wife

A husband who phoned emergency services to confess to killing his wife before taking his own life was assessed for severe anxiety weeks before they died, an inquest heard.

Anthony Buxton, 71, had suffered a mental health decline in the months before he strangled Michelle, 69, at their home in Camelford, Cornwall.

Cornwall Coroner's Court heard Buxton alerted the ambulance service after attacking his wife on the evening of 24 September 2025. Son Daniel Buxton also told the hearing his father believed an organised gang "was targeting him" and bugged the home.

Senior coroner Andrew Cox returned a conclusion of unlawful killing for Michelle Buxton and recorded Anthony Buxton took his own life.

One of the first officers on the scene, Pc Jacob Double, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said he and a colleague responded to a 999 call from a man who said "he had killed his wife".

Double said a woman's voice could be heard on the emergency call "groaning and saying 'Help,' and a male voice was heard saying: 'I've done it. No-one can stop me. I've killed her.'"

Double and a colleague forced entry to the house and found the couple unresponsive inside.

Post-mortem examinations found Michelle Buxton had died from strangulation, while Anthony Buxton died from a stab wound.

Daniel Buxton told the inquest his father had become unusually quiet in the months before his death and was becoming paranoid.

He said: "Eventually it got to the point where Mum seemed to be struggling and Dad was getting quite anxious and really not wanting to tell us any information and would get defensive when pressed."

He added: "We installed CCTV cameras in the house because he was concerned there was an overarching delusion he had.

"He had this idea or beliefs that an organised crime gang was targeting him and had access to the house and had bugged the house with microphones and cameras, and his family were in danger."

Georgina Clark, from the Cornwall Partnership Mental Health Trust, said Mr Buxton had been referred to the trust by his GP in August who said he had suffered short-term memory loss over several years and was assessed days later.

Medics said his severe anxiety should be treated as it could affect memory.

He was referred to the community mental health team for talking therapies, the inquest heard.

Det Con Tom Graham, of Devon and Cornwall Police, who investigated the deaths, said there was no evidence of third-party involvement.

Recording his conclusions, Cox said: "No-one, family members or mental health practitioners, seriously felt that Michelle was at risk of harm from her husband Anthony.

"If Anthony had survived, he would inevitably have been charged with a homicide offence."

Addressing the family, the coroner added: "This is a dreadful set of circumstances, completely unexpected, and you have my deepest sympathies for what has occurred."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.