The bereaved family of three sisters found dead in the waters off Brighton have disclosed another devastating detail - the women's mother also perished by drowning years before.
Jane Adetoro, 36, alongside sisters Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, all from Uxbridge in west London, were pulled from the sea shortly before dawn on May 13 after emergency services received an alert at approximately 5.45am.
Family Condemns Online Conspiracy Theories
Relatives portrayed the trio as private individuals who shared an exceptionally close bond, maintaining they led unassuming lives and steered clear of alcohol, cigarettes and the party scene. They have also condemned the proliferation of online conspiracy theories that have emerged following the tragedy.
Family members stated they were unaware the women had made the journey to Brighton during the early morning hours. Nevertheless, they proposed the sisters may have travelled to the East Sussex coastline to honour their mother, who drowned in Birmingham in 2010.
Their aunt, Ajike Adetoro, described the deaths as completely unforeseen, noting that Jane, Christina and Rebecca had seemed "totally happy" prior to the incident and that the circumstances were "totally unexpected".
Investigation Ongoing
Officers investigating the matter confirmed they have yet to establish how the sisters ended up in the water. Detectives emphasised there is presently no evidence suggesting criminal activity or the involvement of any other individual in the incident. Public interest intensified after the family first published an AI-generated photograph depicting the three women together. A subsequent image, captured during the sisters' adolescent years, was later released to the public.
Father's Heartfelt Tribute
In a heartfelt statement released on Wednesday, the women's father, Joseph, expressed his grief over the loss of all three daughters. He said: "Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters - Jane, Christina, and Becky - whose lives ended so tragically far too soon. No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives. Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love."
Joseph subsequently paid tribute to each daughter separately, saying: "Jane, your strength and loving spirit will never be forgotten. Christina, your kindness and beautiful heart touched so many lives. Becky, your warmth and joyful soul brought happiness wherever you went. You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed. The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal. There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared - the laughter, the conversations, the love, and the bond that death can never take away."
Police Appeal for Witnesses
The investigation into the circumstances of the sisters' deaths continues. Detectives have dedicated considerable time examining substantial CCTV material and conducting enquiries with local residents and businesses along the seafront in a bid to trace the women's final hours.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, the Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, urged witnesses or anyone holding pertinent information to come forward to police. Investigators are particularly keen to hear from individuals who might have spotted the sisters in the vicinity of Madeira Drive between 10pm on Tuesday, May 12, and 5.30am the subsequent morning.
Chief Superintendent Hays stated: "The thoughts of everyone at Sussex Police are with the family of Jane, Christina and Rebecca following this devastating loss. I know this incident has had a profound impact on the local community in Brighton, and across the country and I'd like to reassure the public we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that Wednesday morning. This investigation will continue in earnest, with Jane, Christina and Rebecca's family at its centre. I would ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this terrible tragedy."
Coastguard Theory on Drowning
Investigators from the Coastguard are examining the possibility that one or more of the sisters may have entered the water from the shore before getting into difficulty due to Brighton's dramatically shelving seabed. A Coastguard insider revealed: "The shoreline off Brighton Beach slopes steeply into deep water, many people don't realise the danger. You don't have to go far out at all before there's a big drop-off and you go from knee-high water to chest-high water. Swimmers can be pulled out of their depth very quickly from the backwash and with pebbles shifting underfoot it becomes difficult to maintain your balance especially when you're trying to climb back up the slope with waves crashing against you. One theory that the Coastguard are looking at is that at least one of the women went into the sea for a paddle and strayed too far out and were caught out by the sudden drop."
