A woman found dead on her bathroom floor died of hypothermia, an inquest heard. Police launched a full investigation after the discovery of Karen Rigby’s body.

Following the sad discovery, a PCSO stood guard in an alley outside a property for several days. Her death remains a mystery after an inquest could only deliver an open verdict.

Karen, 47, had led a “chaotic lifestyle” before she was found dead on the bathroom floor of her home in King Street, Fenton, on May 9 last year. She had a number of prescription and non-prescription drugs in her system, as well as alcohol, and was suffering from an enlarged heart, StokeonTrentLive reports.

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The cause of death was given as hypothermia. Nicholas Walker, deputy coroner for North Staffordshire, said: “By all appearances this was a difficult case.”

“The position in which Karen’s body was found does not provide any information about the cause of death. Karen led a chaotic lifestyle, but that does not help me in my findings. There is no evidence on the basis of probability that could help me in my findings.

“Speculation is that an accident must have caused her to land on the floor. There is a possibility that cardiac arrest may have caused her to collapse on the floor, but there is no evidence of that, this is just my speculation.”

He added: “I am not satisfied with the circumstances but I am satisfied that no third party was involved. I cannot be satisfied that this was a deliberate death. I am considering the alternative conditions available to me.”

“Karen Rigby died in her bathroom at her address in King Street, Fenton. She died of hypothermia but there is no evidence to confirm her condition and I can only speculate that her enlarged heart may have played a role. I close this inquest as an open verdict.”