Social services had tried to help mum and daughter found dead

A mother and her disabled daughter found dead in their house at the weekend had refused help from social services, it has emerged.

It is suspected that Stephania Wolf, 67, died suddenly and her daughter, 29-year-old Sam Wolf, was unable to survive without her care. Their bodies were found on Saturday morning at their home in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Council said it had offered help to the family several times over 12 years but had been turned down.

In August 1998, the council conducted an assessment and adapted the property for disabled access but offers of further assistance were refused.

The latest assessment was in March 2006, the council said, but offers of day services and further support were again declined.

Carole Cochrane, chief executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: “The deaths of Stephania Wolf and her daughter Sam is tragic. We do hear from families who do not want contact with statutory services, and it is important that alternative support is offered, such as carers’ centres. Families often trust and respond more to the offer of support from charities and that is why it is vital that statutory services work with carers’ centres to make sure families can get the support they need.

“Working with and investing in Carers’ Centres can prevent the worst situations from arising. This is why cutting support for carers’ centres and carers in general can lead to much higher costs for families and for councils. If we want to build a society that cares, we must support carers.”

Hertfordshire Constabulary said early results from a post mortem showed neither woman sustained any external injuries or were victims of violence before their death, but forensic tests to establish how they died were ongoing. 

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