The family of a young woman who died in tragic circumstances at a Liverpool hotel say they are still searching for justice and answers nearly three years after the incident.
Chloe Haynes, 21, was discovered dead beneath a heavy wardrobe at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool in September 2022. Her death, initially treated as suspicious, sparked a murder investigation and prompted the arrest of three men. However, Merseyside Police later ruled the incident as accidental.
Despite the police closure, Liverpool City Council’s environmental health department launched a separate investigation, stressing at the time that criminal proceedings remained a possibility. The outcome of that inquiry has not yet been made public.
This week’s scheduled pre-inquest review into the fatal accident has now been delayed, prolonging the wait for Chloe’s loved ones. Her mother, Nicola Williams, continues to push for full transparency around what happened to her daughter.
Chloe had travelled to Liverpool from her workplace at Haven Holiday Park in North Wales for a night out with a colleague. According to Nicola, Chloe had been drinking and returned early to the hotel with her friend, who left her to rest and later found her lifeless under the fallen wardrobe.
Nicola told local media that her daughter may have awoken disoriented and mistaken the wardrobe door for an exit or bathroom door. “It was a big, old, heavy wardrobe and it’s fallen on her and crushed her windpipe,” she explained, describing how nearby guests attempted to help but were ultimately unable to save her.
“She had so much to look forward to,” Nicola said. “She was building her confidence, making friends and beginning to enjoy life. She was kind, caring, and never spoke unless something really needed to be said.”
Described as quiet but warm-hearted, Chloe had a close group of friends and was gradually growing into her own personality, according to her mother. “She was so petite – my little birdy. When she ate, she’d peck like a bird. That’s how she got the nickname.”
Her sudden death has left the family heartbroken and determined to hold someone accountable if failings are discovered in the hotel’s safety standards.
Britannia Hotels, which owns the Adelphi Hotel, has not issued a recent statement in light of the continued delays. The hotel has previously been criticised for maintenance and safety concerns.
A new date for the pre-inquest review is expected to be set in the coming weeks.
