Home / Crime and Justice / Alzheimer's Tragedy: Couple Found Dead in Home
Alzheimer's Tragedy: Couple Found Dead in Home
10 Jun
Summary
- Wife suffered fatal head injuries; husband died by suicide.
- Husband had Alzheimer's diagnosis; no prior violence.
- Couple married 55 years, described as 'happily married'.
A poignant inquest in Oxfordshire has concluded the deaths of Zena and David Hoskins, a couple married for 55 years, as a tragic murder-suicide. Zena Hoskins, 77, was discovered in her bed on September 15, 2026, having sustained severe head injuries. Her husband, David Hoskins, 80, was found deceased in the property's garage.
David Hoskins had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in May 2024. While he had no history of violence, his cognitive decline had reportedly placed a strain on their relationship. The inquest heard that Zena, a former chair of Milton Parish Council, likely sustained her injuries while sleeping, with forensic pathology indicating at least four blows to the head.
The couple was last seen on September 12, 2026. Their daughter discovered them after being unable to contact them. Two hammers, believed to be the murder weapons, were recovered from the garage. The coroner described the case as a "tragic and very much unexpected event."
