Epsom College headteacher Emma Pattison and her seven-year-old daughter Lettie died of shotgun wounds, an inquest has heard.
They were found dead at their home in the grounds of the private boarding school in Surrey on February 5, along with Mrs Pattison’s husband, George Pattison, who is understood to have murdered them before killing himself.
Mrs Pattison, 45, died of shock, haemorrhage and shotgun wounds to the chest and abdomen, while Lettie died of a shotgun wound to the head, the inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court heard on Thursday.
An inquest that opened into the death of Mr Pattison, 39, the previous day heard he died of a “shotgun wound to the head”.
The trio were found dead after Mrs Pattison made a distressed call to her sister. A firearm legally registered to Mr Pattison was found at the scene, Surrey Police has confirmed.
Coroner Simon Wickens on Thursday expressed his condolences to those who loved or knew Mrs Pattison and Lettie, whose full name was Ellette Francesca.
After the brief hearing, Mr Wickens said: “I would like to offer my condolences to Emma’s family and friends and also the wider community she served and also to the students whose lives she no doubt touched.”
He added: “I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to Ellette’s family and all who have been touched by her life.”
Post-mortem examinations were carried out by Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl at East Surrey Hospital four days after the shooting, coroner’s officer Kelly Truss said.
Toxicology and histology tests were carried out, while Mrs Pattison and Lettie were identified by their teeth, the court heard.
A pre-inquest review hearing into the deaths has been set for June 27.
The inquest opened into Mr Pattison’s death on Wednesday also heard toxicology and histology reports had been carried out, and that he too was identified by his teeth.
A pre-inquest review hearing relating to his case has also been set for June 27 at the same court.
Mrs Pattison became Epsom’s first female head in September 2022 after six years as headteacher of Croydon High School in south London.
Mr Pattison was a chartered accountant who was director of a management consultancy called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.
Following their deaths, Mrs Pattison and Lettie’s loved ones said paid tribute to the “inseparable” mother and daughter.
“To see the esteem in which Emma is held by all who knew her is an enormous comfort,” they said.
“She was everything one could hope for in a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher and so much more. We are an extremely close family and family was at the centre of Emma and Lettie’s universe.
“The Epsom College community had become part of that universe for them both.
“Seven-year-old Lettie was Emma’s pride and joy: an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years.
“The two of them were inseparable and we take comfort in that they will remain so.
“Emma had a warm, welcoming smile and sparkling, blue eyes, full of optimism. Over the last 11 days we’ve noticed the sky has been bright blue, with at times a warm glow of pink.”
