Family of Three Sisters Who Drowned in Brighton Still Seek Answers
The family of three sisters who drowned in the sea off Brighton beach have expressed their ongoing confusion and grief, stating they 'don't have the answers' about why the women were there or how they entered the water. Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, all from the Uxbridge area of London, tragically lost their lives 70 miles from home on the morning of May 13.
Their father, Joseph, paid a heartfelt tribute to his daughters, saying, 'No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives.' The family has been further devastated by the revelation that their mother, Janice Adetoro, also drowned in a similar tragedy in 2010. Janice, who had separated from her husband and struggled with mental health issues, walked into a park lake near her home in the West Midlands.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the sisters' aunt, Ajike Johnson, described how the earlier tragedy 'traumatised the girls,' adding that 'they never recovered.' While both the family and police are investigating whether the sisters might have walked into the water as their mother did, their stepmother, Genevieve Barnaby-Adetoro, dismisses this possibility. Aunt Jik, as her nieces called her, hopes it was a terrible accident. 'I pray that they've been being mischievous, and that one of them lost their footing and the others dived in to save them,' she said.
Genevieve told the paper that the family has been retraumatised by abusive comments from conspiracy theorists on social media. 'People are heartless. Some are saying, "We MUST know. We must have answers". Hold on a minute. We are their family, and we don't have answers,' she said. Fighting back tears, Ajike added, 'Don't think we aren't asking the questions ourselves. "Girls, why were you in Brighton? Did you just decide to go?" I've gone over and over it.'
Ajike suggested that the sisters, who were fans of David Attenborough, might have decided to 'go for a paddle' after attending an event in Brighton for the natural historian's 100th birthday the night before. 'Did one fall in and the others go to help? Because they would have done – where one of them went, you always found the other two,' she said.
Genevieve rejected the notion that there is comfort in the sisters dying together, as they had lived. 'No,' she said, 'They didn't come into this world together. Why would they leave it together?' A GoFundMe campaign to give the sisters 'the loving and dignified farewell they deserve' has raised nearly £40,000 in its first 24 hours. Organiser Adesoji Adetoro wrote on behalf of his brother Joseph and the family, saying, 'No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone all three. While trying to process this unimaginable tragedy, my brother is now also faced with the heartbreaking task of arranging three funerals.'
Sussex Police have stated there is no evidence of criminality or involvement of others, but specialist detectives are working to gather all facts. Hundreds of hours of CCTV footage have been reviewed, and inquiries made to businesses and properties around the beach area. The force urges anyone with information, especially those who saw the sisters around Madeira Drive between 10pm on May 12 and 5:30am on May 13, to come forward. Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said the force 'will leave no stone unturned' in the investigation.
For emotional support, the Samaritans can be reached 24/7 at 116 123, or via email at jo@samaritans.org. PAPYRUS offers suicide prevention support for young people through HOPELINE247 at 0800 068 4141, text 88247, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.
