An inquest has opened into the deaths of three sisters who drowned while swimming off the coast of Brighton, England, earlier this month. Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, all from Uxbridge, west London, were found in the water near Brighton Marina on May 13, 2026. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted, but the cause of death remains 'yet to be ascertained,' according to the coroner. The inquest, held at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton, heard that Rebecca Walters was washed ashore and declared dead by a paramedic, while the other two sisters' bodies were recovered by an RNLI crew and also pronounced deceased. Coroner Penelope Schofield confirmed that police have ruled out any third-party involvement in the deaths, urging the public to refrain from social media speculation.
Background on the Family
The sisters' father, Joseph Jacobson, attended the hearing remotely, and the coroner expressed condolences for his 'unbearable' loss. The inquest comes amid online speculation about the family's history, including claims that their mother, Janice Adetoro, was reported missing in 2010 and later found drowned in a Birmingham lake. Fact-checking sources have debunked claims that the family ran a GoFundMe campaign for their mother, as the fundraising platform did not exist at the time of her disappearance. A GoFundMe account has since been set up to cover the funeral expenses of the three sisters.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities have not disclosed why the sisters traveled from London to Brighton before their deaths. Sussex Police have stated there is no evidence of criminal activity or third-party involvement. The coroner emphasized that medical examinations are ongoing to finalize the cause of death, and further updates are expected as the investigation continues.