A worried mother killed her 10-year-old son, who was a “very happy child”, before killing herself, an inquest heard.
The bodies of 30-year-old Adalia Baptisa and her son Frederico Baptisa-Mendes were found in a decomposed state more than seven weeks after their deaths.
They were discovered in September last year at their council house in the Holbeck area of Leeds, UK, reports the Chron.
Analysis of their cell phones showed that they were last used at the end of July.
The boy's teachers raised the alarm when he failed to return to school after the summer holidays and police investigated on September 15 last year.
When no one responded, the police forced entry with the help of a locksmith. There they found Ms. Baptisa and Frederico dead.
A difficult diagnosis to accept
The court heard how Ms Baptisa struggled with her son's autism.
Frederico was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2019 and attended a primary school specializing in supporting children with complex communication difficulties.
“Adalia had difficulty accepting this diagnosis,” said Detective Inspector Suzanne Hall.
The court heard that Ms Baptisa's computer contained evidence that she had accessed numerous websites on euthanasia and other related topics.
She spent months looking for ways to end her son's life.
“My cousin suffered from depression and autism [de Frederico]which unfortunately became too difficult for them,” complained Ms. Baptisa’s cousin Cíntia Costa.