An 'amazing' and 'hugely talented' businessman and fashion designer from Oldham took his own life in a New York hotel room after his 'life unraveled', an inquest heard.
Dominic Miachon-Hobson, 38, originally from Saddleworth but who moved to the United States, worked for several top fashion firms as well as designing and making his own work which was 'akin to what you would see on the red carpet'.
However, an inquest into his death heard in the years leading up to his death his mental health deteriorated and he suffered a number of 'catastrophic' life events including the breakup of his marriage and being saddled with 'insurmountable' debts thanks to the financial collapse of his employer.
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Mr Miachon-Hobson, who lived in an apartment in the Brooklyn area of New York, was found dead at the luxury Mercer Hotel in Soho, Manhattan, by staff who went to check on him after he failed to check out on time.
A post-mortem found he had died of a drug overdose. At an inquest into his death at Rochdale Coroner's Court on Thursday, a coroner ruled he had taken two substances with the intention of ending his life.
'A-star pupil' Mr Miachon-Hobson moved to London where he obtained a law degree from the London School of Economics (LSE), the inquest heard.
Whilst in London he met the 'love of his life' Julien Miachon and the pair married in a civil partnership ceremony before they moved to New York together in 2012.
Mr Miachon-Hobson was a 'showman from an early age' and his 'passion in life was always fashion' the hearing was told. After leaving financial firm Deloitte, he worked for fashion brands Alexis and Zac Posen which 'satisfied his desire to work in fashion'.
He would also design and create his own 'beautiful' pieces which 'had the wow factor' and were 'akin to what you would see on the red carpet' his father Stuart Hobson said.
The inquest heard that he was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Zac Posen and when the firm was struggling he 'used his credit card to pay wages on the understanding that would be paid back.'
When the company went under he was left with liabilities of over $166,000, his mother Gail Seagrim said in a statement at the inquest, which was dealt with on a documentary basis with no live witnesses being called.
He had started legal action to try and 'pursue compensation' she added but said his efforts were affected by the Covid pandemic and proved unsuccessful.
Mr Miachon-Hobson, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, also separated from his husband in October 2020 as his mental health deteriorated. Ms Seagrim said coronavirus travel restrictions in place at the time meant she was unable to fly to the US to be with him.
Just weeks before his death he returned to the UK for Christmas visiting friends and family including both of his parents. Ms Seagrim said they had the 'most perfect Christmas' together and now believes he had been 'planning his final act for a few months' and had returned to 'say his goodbyes.'
He was discovered by staff in a third-floor room of the hotel at 3.25pm on January 26. A medical examiner in the US ruled he died as a result of 'acute intoxication by the combined effects' over two separate drugs. A 'suicide note' was found at the scene by New York police investigators.
Whilst notes to several members of his family were found on his phone by officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP). He had also made a number of internet searches for 'Saddleworth cemetery' on January 25.
In a statement husband, Julien said they often frequented The Mercer hotel for food and drink that he 'would have wanted his last moments to be in a 'cool, luxurious and known place'.
Dominic's father Mr Hobson said he had 'many hopes and aspirations for the future' and questioned how mental health professionals overseeing his care could have allowed him to 'deteriorate to such a crisis level that he took his own life'.
Assistant Coroner Julie Mitchell took on board the comments from his family about the care he received but said: "That is not something I can consider as I have no power over the US and cannot direct them to do anything differently.
"Reading everything about Dominic, it appears he was someone that was cheerful, kind, thoughtful," she said. "Someone who loved his family and was loved in return.
"Family, and I hope this is of comfort to you, I don't think there is anything more that could have been done to help Dominic. I appreciate the concerns about mental health in America but I think he knew where to get help if he needed it.
"He had a lifestyle where he had people to reach out to, even if not his close friends and family here in the UK. It appears his life took a significant downward turn in the last 12 to 18 months of his life.
"He lost the love of his life, he suffered with mental health difficulties, and he abused alcohol and substances. I imagine that was his way of coping with his life that was unraveling."
Ms Mitchell said that 'bearing in mind his lifestyle of thrill-seeking and taking substances' she had to consider the overdose was 'incidental from recreational use' or a deliberate act.
However, recording a conclusion of suicide she said she was satisfied it was intentional. "I cannot imagine the turmoil and worry he must have been experiencing in relation to his financial situation," she said. "It was an insurmountable and inconceivable debt."
That was one of a 'series of catastrophic life events which led Dominic to take the drugs he took with the intention of ending his life' she added.
She ruled Mr Miachon-Hobson who had 'long-standing and complex mental health issues' died from 'drug toxicity' after 'ingesting them with the intention of ending his life' adding that 'suspicious circumstances and third party involvement had been excluded.'
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