Female football star found dead after row with girlfriend

A rising star of women's football was found hanging days after a row over her girlfriend's refusal to tell her parents about their relationship, an inquest heard.Katie Sheppard, 20, who played for West Ham Ladies, sent angry text messages 'shouting' at her partner Nancy Richardson.The promising midfielder was discovered dead on July 2nd this year just hours before she was due to begin pre-season training at the club.Her body was found by Nathaniel Hall, her mother's partner, at her home in Sidcup, Kent.Yesterday an inquest at Croydon Coroner's Court heard how officers were concerned the couple may have planned a suicide pact.PC Alex Giacomazzi said he rushed to Nancy's home after speaking to Ms Sheppard's brother, Christopher, soon after her body was discovered.He told the inquest: "I learned that Katie was openly homosexual and her family and friends had accepted that."I found out she had a girlfriend called Nancy Richardson, I was worried that there may have been some sort of pact and they did it together."But when he turned up at Ms Richardson's home he had to break the news to her in front of her parents.Ms Richardson revealed communication between the two had been difficult in the days before, the court heard.PC Giacomazzi told coroner Dr Adela Williams he had gone through Nancy's phone and the tone of the messages from Katie had changed in the days leading up to her death.He said: "It had suddenly changed very dramatically and Katie started 'shouting' over text message, using capitals, because Nancy wasn't telling her parents about the relationship."At 10.29am on the day of her death Katie sent a chilling message to Nancy saying: "Don't look at your phone or you might turn up here and I can't physically answer."A diary found in her bedroom contained a hand written suicide note with the message: "God forgive me, I sacrifice myself to you and to your kingdom."Beside the message was a picture of a coffin with the letter 'K' on it, the inquest heard.(mirror.co.uk)Bakudaily.Az