Sittingbourne teen found dead at King Charles Hotel in Gillingham was 'inspiring, brave and compassionate'
06:00, 04 September 2020
updated: 09:16, 04 September 2020
A teenager found dead in a hotel room was an "inspiring, brave and compassionate" woman, her family have said.
Kayleigh Millen, of Iris Drive, Sittingbourne , was found dead at the King Charles Hotel , Brompton Road, Gillingham.
The 19-year-old had been out with her friend Ricky Gregory for dinner and drinks in her home town the night before she died.
During a resumed inquest at Maidstone's County Hall, which had originally started in March but was adjourned because of time constraints, and then couldn't be heard sooner because of the pandemic, coroner James Dillon gave Miss Millen's cause of death as hanging.
Following the discovery of Kayleigh's body, on January 31, 2018, her friend Mr Gregory was arrested on suspicion of murder, but was later released without charge after Det Insp Adam Marshall and his team from Kent Police, found him not culpable of murder.
It was heard that Mr Gregory had left the hotel shortly before 3am to walk to a nearby 24-hour shop to buy a soft drink, and on his return 40 minutes later he struggled to get into the room.
After trying multiple times, he asked for help from the receptionist, who used the master key to gain access, and opened the door before returning downstairs.
"Most people remember her by her infectious laugh, as someone that never failed to put a smile on our faces..."
When Mr Gregory walked through the door he saw Miss Millen's body on the other side of the room, but didn't realise for "around a minute" what was happening.
He ran down to reception and shouted for help from the receptionist who cut the teenager down and performed CPR.
However, sadly, when paramedics arrived minutes later, she was pronounced dead.
Paying tribute to their daughter, sister, niece and grandaughter, the family said in a statement: "Kayleigh came into our lives as an inspiring, brave, confident and compassionate person and left our lives as exactly this person we remember her by today and forever.
"Most people remember her by her infectious laugh, as someone that never failed to put a smile on our faces and lift our spirits wherever she was.
"From her terrible jokes, her dark sense of humour, or just her wit; she could, without doubt, always cheer you up.
"Kayleigh always knew how to comfort and care for someone, whether this was a forever loved pet such as Rekien, or someone she had only just met.
"She loved everyone and could never do enough for anybody else, and in return she was very loved by everyone who was fortunate enough to meet such an incredible and unique young lady.
"Living life was her passion, a journey she lived to the fullest. Kayleigh inspired all of us with how she approached life and took every opportunity she was presented with."
The inquest heard that when Mr Gregory walked into the room and saw Miss Millen's body he thought it may have been a "prank", something he later told police, and described how the pair would sometimes play dead to scare each other, but it was "never something this serious".
"It doesn't make sense that Kayleigh would commit suicide, she was in a really good place and was relaxed..."
However, her family, and in particular her mum, didn't think she had taken her own life as "she was in a good place" and had made plans for the future, including going bowling the next day and on holiday in May 2019.
In a statement read to the court in March from Kayleigh's mum Sarah Millen, she said: "It doesn't make sense that Kayleigh would commit suicide, she was in a really good place and was relaxed.
"She was happy to be home and she was not a concern to me at all."
Mr Gregory was questioned over the night's events with Kayleigh, who he claimed was in a "good mood" when he left.
However, this was disputed by the family's barrister Rose Harvey-Sullivan who claimed the pair had some sort of argument, referring to texts between the two after he had left the hotel.
Det Insp Marshall also said it was likely a "significant conversation" took place between the two, but Mr Gregory continued to deny any disagreement happened.
In conclusion coroner James Dillion said Mr Gregory's explanations seemed to "lack credibility" and he gave "different accounts" of what happened that night.
He recorded a narrative conclusion, adding there was no sign or evidence the teenager had the "requisite intent to take her own life" and her death was likely an accident.
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