- Caitlyn Scott-Lee, a 16-year-old autistic schoolgirl, tragically took her own life at the £44,000-a-year Wycombe Abbey School in Buckinghamshire after receiving her first-ever detention.
- Her father, Jonathan Scott-Lee, described her as a “daddy’s girl” whose memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.
- Caitlyn’s autism led her to become “hyper-fixated” on the upcoming detention, which was a significant trigger for her suicidal thoughts.
Newsypeople – A teenage girl, Caitlyn Scott-Lee, tragically ended her life following a disciplinary action for consuming alcohol, which was revealed during an inquest. Caitlyn, a 16-year-old student at Wycombe Abbey, a £44,000-per-year school in Buckinghamshire, was discovered dead in a secluded area of the school on the eve of her scheduled detention, which was due to a bottle of vodka found in her locker on March 19.
The inquest revealed that Caitlyn, who was diagnosed with autism, had expressed her preference for suicide over attending the detention to her roommate. Diary entries discovered post-mortem indicated her anxiety about the detention, with one entry marking it as her last.
Dr. Joseph Gubral, Caitlyn’s GP, testified that the teenager had confided in him about occasional suicidal thoughts but had not acted on them. He noted that Caitlyn, described as a ‘daddy’s girl’ by her father, Johnathan, had mentioned discussing her feelings with a friend to alleviate them. Caitlyn also disclosed to the doctor that she had been dealing with depression for three years and anxiety for a year, with her anxiety reportedly worsening.
Dr. Gubral had last seen Caitlyn in March 2023, a month before her death, and diagnosed her with moderate depression and anxiety. He referred her to local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for ongoing monitoring and treatment.
The coroner, Crispin Butler, provided an update on the post-mortem findings without going into detail, stating that the cause of death was consistent with hanging. Caitlyn had received her first-ever detention after a half-empty bottle of vodka was found in her locker at the prestigious private school. She was informed that she would face the detention after school hours.
Caitlyn, the eldest of three sisters, had expressed her desire to end her life rather than face the detention to another student who shared her dorm room. She had also written a note in her diary expressing her wish to die. The inquest was informed that Caitlyn disappeared two days after receiving the detention, coinciding with the day she was supposed to perform at a concert at Eton College. She was found at her mother’s residence in Windsor, with her diary entry describing the incident as her “best cry for help.”
Headmistress Jo Duncan of Wycombe Abbey clarified that the school viewed the Eton College incident and the discovery of alcohol in Caitlyn’s possession as separate incidents. Caitlyn’s father, a senior banker residing in Malaysia, paid tribute to his daughter before any evidence was presented during the inquest.
He shared a montage of photos and memories of his daughter, highlighting her achievements and travels, including visiting the Great Wall of China and learning to scuba dive. He expressed pride in her accomplishments but did not engage in conversation with his estranged wife, Tara, who was present in the courtroom.
