An inquest heard that an IT expert was discovered hanging at his mother’s home after he attacked his affluent Chinese heiress fiancee after their breakup and ran up massive debts running an investment firm as his life spiraled worse.
Shaun Dowling, 31, committed suicide after his mental health deteriorated as a result of a series of personal traumas, including abuse, bankruptcy, and the loss of his £1.5 million Cotswolds house.
The Winchester Coroners Court heard that the ‘talented’ computer expert was discovered in his mother’s Hampshire home on August 2, 2012, after being compelled to return home.
The extremely intelligent computer engineer got two master’s degrees, one in Engineering Mathematics from Bristol University and another in Machine Learning from University College London, according to testimony during Mr. Dowling’s inquest.
His father, Mike Dowling, stated that he had a “unconventional career path” and held a series of well-paying positions at several start-ups.
Then, Mr. Dowling and his affluent fiancée, Ms. Mills, who had inherited her mother’s immense money at a young age, established their own profitable investment company.
The couple resided on a property on the edges of the Cotswolds in Chipping Norton, an Oxfordshire market town whose residents include The Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson, and David Cameron.
His inquest heard that Mr. Dowling had “everything to live for,” but in the fall of 2020, his mental health began to deteriorate after his engagement ended.
According to the inquiry, yoga instructor Ms. Mills could no longer tolerate Mr. Dowling’s unpredictable behavior, their relationship ended, and he was arrested for beating her.
Also during this time, Mr. Dowling’s connection with his father deteriorated due to differences in opinion regarding his lifestyle.
In April 2021, he violated the terms of his bail by returning to their residence and ‘terrifying’ her. After the police arrived, he was charged with violating his bail.
At this point, Mr. Dowling’s mental state rapidly deteriorated, and in June 2021, he was committed to a mental health facility because he was manic.
The Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that he had “grandiose notions” and had lost touch with reality. As he emerged from his manic condition, he recalled his social standing and big debt, grew unhappy, and began to express that he would be “better off dead.” Mr. Dowling successfully petitioned the mental health tribunal and was discharged from the Highgate hospital in London, contrary to the opinion of some members of his care team.
His hospital caregivers argued that his section order should not have been terminated since it was “too soon” and “everything was going to fall apart.”
Dr. Susie Carmen was “surprised” when Mr. Dowling’s section order was revoked because he was “still really ill.”
Mr. Dowling moved in with his mother in Overton after being released from the hospital.
His mother, Pam, stated, “When Michael began discussing suicide, I had no idea how to assist him.”
The inquest heard that after a medication change, he appeared to be on a “upward trajectory.”
Mr. Dowling’s relationship with his father had healed, and he and his father had begun discussing his debt.
However, his mother discovered him hanged on August 2, 2012, the day he was scheduled to see a doctor.
Mr. Dowling, who grew up in Hampshire, was said to have come from a “stable” and “loving” home and had “many friends.”
He enjoyed teaching Pilates, martial arts, and life coaching because he was “focused on his physical and spiritual wellbeing”
His psychologist, Dr. Geoff Warburton, who treated Mr. Dowling until three months before his death, stated during the inquest that Mr. Dowling “wanted to find something that would improve the world.”
Dr. Warburton stated, “(Mr. Dowling) is the only client I’ve worked with in over 30 years of practice whose main therapy objective was to better the world.