'Beautiful' woman, 23, found dead 1 year after sending Chat GPT tragic 2-word message

The remains of a 23-year-old woman were discovered in her Bolton flat after being unaccounted for more than a year, with investigations revealing that the last messages on her phone were to the AI service ChatGPT.

The body of Charlotte Leader, who had not spoken to her family since September 2021, was found on August 6, 2025, at her address on Newbury Walk, Bolton. At a coroner's hearing, senior coroner Stephen Teasdale described the flat as "immaculate," with no illicit drugs present and no obvious indication of suicide. Neighbours reported they had not seen her leave the property for an extended period.

The only conversations found on her phone, according to locality detectives, were those between Charlotte and ChatGPT.

One message dated July 30, 2024, read: "Help me, I've went and got food again."

The AI responded: "You sound conflicted about having food." Charlotte replied: "It's food that I didn't want and that's frustrating."

Charlotte's grieving family described her as "a very beautiful and talented young woman" who played guitar, keyboard and loved art.

"She was loved tremendously by the family and will be missed every day," they wrote on social media. Her sister, Caroline Calow, said Charlotte had battled bulimia for much of her life.

"There was absolutely no medication in that flat whatsoever, it looked like someone who cared, it wasn't the flat of someone who had given up," she added.

Dr Andrew Coates, the pathologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, described the examination as "difficult" given the extent of post-mortem change.

He said the body was significantly mummified and that eating disorders can reduce someone to a dangerously underweight state, but he was unable to determine whether that was the cause of death.

Detective Inspector Paul Quinn noted that the first-floor flat was "sparsely furnished" and said that the presence of food in the refrigerator with sell-by dates of July 2024 suggested Charlotte had been deceased for some time before discovery.

The inquest opened an investigation into welfare procedures after housing officials, unable to gain entry for a utility inspection, prompted the police to conduct a welfare check.

A large volume of mail behind the front door raised concern. Upon entry, officers found Charlotte in bed under a duvet "as if she were sleeping."

Coroner Teasdale concluded the inquest with an "open" conclusion, citing insufficient evidence to determine a cause of death. He expressed his condolences to the family and said the investigation would remain active.