Women ‘refused’ social service help before deaths

Two women found dead at their Hertfordshire home on Saturday have been named as mother Stephania Wolf and daughter Sam Wolf as social services reveal they had turned down help.

Hertfordshire County Council said Mrs Wolf, 67, who cared for her disabled daughter in their home on Marford Road, Wheathampstead, had refused help from Social Services on two occasions.

“We were aware of the family but they had refused our offer of services,” a spokesman for the council said.

“In August 1998, an assessment of need resulted in the provision of equipment and major adaptations to the property to provide disability access (ramps, rails etc). Following on from this, various offers of support offered by Adult Care Services were declined.

“We carried out a further assessment of Ms Wolf’s needs in March 2006, and offered to provide day services and various other support which was declined.”

Stephania Wolf’s decomposed body was found along with that of her 29-year-old Sam at their home ‘Swiss Cottage’ on Saturday afternoon.

It has been suggested Ms Wolf have died several weeks ago, leaving her daughter unable to care for herself. Channel 4 News has learned the daughter had cerebral palsy.

Kerry Goodwin, who lived next door to the Wolf’s for 15 years, said: “I don’t really know their names. They’re very private people… We said hi when we were passing them, but they were very proud people and liked to keep themselves to themselves.

“They didn’t like people getting involved in their business and it’s quite a tragedy really as we could have helped if we’d known.

“She liked her lawn kept immaculate and hedge trimmed and they were the only times I saw her,” Ms Goodwin said.

When asked if she knew about any involvement with social services, Ms Goodwin said: “I saw the daughter going out for day trips in the mini van but other than that, nothing really.

“As far as I know the mother always looked after the daughter really well. They went out on day trips, they always seemed like a happy couple together.”

Channel 4 News understands some relatives are in Poland, and have been told about the tragedy.

Initial results of two post mortems suggest there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths. Local police, who said they were not looking for anyone in connection with the deaths, said tests showed there were no external injuries.

Forensic tests to establish the causes of death for both are ongoing and results are not expected for a number of weeks.