Rachel Whitear
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A school photograph of Rachel. |
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Rachel's discoloured body collapsed in the fetal position. |
Rachel Whitear (1979 - May 2000) was a
British student from
Ledbury,
Herefordshire who died following a
heroin overdose. Her death in May 2000 led to a large-scale anti-drugs campaign in Britain, particularly in secondary schools, when her parents allowed a police photograph to be shown publicly – it showed her
discoloured body collapsed in the
fetal position. The school campaign was centered on a 22-minute video called
Rachel's Story. The campaign was seen as an equivalent of the anti-
ecstasy drive undertaken after the death of British school girl
Leah Betts in 1995 and a parallel incident culminating in the death of
Anna Wood in
Sydney,
Australia.
Rachel was twenty-one years old when she died, having been found dead in her
bedsit in
Exmouth, Devon, by her landlord. The image portrayed in the campaigns was that of a normal, everyday girl, with the message that it could happen to anyone.
The initial police investigation was slated after correct procedures were not followed, with
fingerprints not taken until two weeks after they were first called to the scene.
Blood tests also revealed the presence of only 0.05 micrograms per millilitre of
heroin, one third of the 0.15 μg/ml which is believed to be the fatal dosage. Because the case seemed to have been solved, no
post-mortem examination was ordered. Two men were arrested in connection with her death, but were released without charge. Rachel's body was
exhumed on
23 March 2004, and a second investigation, by
Wiltshire Police, this time including a post-mortem, led to an "open verdict".
A painting of Rachel by
Stella Vine, showing her with blood coming from her mouth, caused controversy during the second investigation when the police backed the calls of Rachel's parents for it not to be part of the
Saatchi Gallery exhibition,
New Blood. It was, however, not withdrawn.
*
1 March 2002. "
Heroin victim's death used as warning" at
BBC News. Accessed
21 November 2005.
*
14 February 2004 "
Addict's body to be exhumed for new tests" at
Guardian Unlimited. Accessed
22 November 2005.
*
16 March 2004. "
Rachel portrait 'appals' family" at BBC News. Accessed
21 November 2005.
*
3 August 2004. Booth, Jenny. "
No third party involved in Rachel's heroin death" at
The Times Online. Accessed
21 November 2005.
*
4 August 2004. Glendinning, Lee. "
No third party involved in Rachel Whitear death" at
The Guardian. Accessed
21 November 2005.
