Cherished Officers found John Cunniam after his family voiced concerns.
An inquest heard that a beloved brother and son committed suicide and was discovered dead by police. John Cunniam, a lifetime supporter of Birmingham City, passed away following mental health issues exacerbated by his father’s death several months prior.
Discovered in the early hours of January 26, the 42-year-old was referred to as a “tortured soul” by family members who had expressed worries to authorities about his well-being. He was found dead in a flat’s bedroom shortly after three in the morning.
Assistant coroner Ian Dreelan declared at his inquest on Monday, July 15, that he had been “marking the end of a long and painful journey” when he took a deadly drug overdose together with alcohol, concluding that he had died by suicide.
His passing caused heartfelt condolences to be expressed for a ‘kind’ and ‘thoughtful’ friend who was also a gifted football player. He was a well-known member of the Sheldon community. At his inquest, it was revealed that John had struggled with mental health concerns since 2015. These included paranoid personality disorder and significant depression with psychotic symptoms.
The court heard that although he was hearing voices, including those speaking “bad things about him,
” the voices grew louder a few days after his father unexpectedly passed away at home and John witnessed his death.
“John was my younger brother and one of four siblings,
” his sister Michelle said in a statement presented during his inquest.
He was a lighthearted, jovial man who appreciated everyone for who they were.
“drinking a lot of alcohol and was really upset between January 20 and January 23. He told me he was going to die the last time I spoke with him.” It was the “frustration that nobody cared,” according to her. He was still having hallucinations, so he was calling out for assistance. It was just a never-ending downhill spiral.”
His mother told the coroner: “John was a tortured soul and he was dependent on me, it was like I thought of him like he was still my child.” She said in court that he had struggled with it following his father’s death several months earlier.
“My dad came into my room a few days after he passed away and said he could hear these voices and it just got worse and worse and worse,” the woman recalled. He was so terrified and so troubled.
“It was rather tough to witness my son’s suffering and to have also lost my spouse. He was no longer trying.”