Heartbroken mum of murdered Swindon woman struggling to afford burial plot

The mother of a murdered Swindon woman has spoken of her grief two years on from her daughter’s tragic death.

Jackie Lewis has struggled to cope with the sudden loss of 27-year-old Shannon Stanley and currently cannot afford to cover the costs of a headstone and plot for her at the Kingsdown Crematorium.

Shannon who grew up in the Pinehurst area, died at a house in Mount Pleasant on Small Heath, Birmingham on May 10, 2022.

Her killer, Pablo Hoad, is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence for stabbing Shannon more than a dozen times.

Jackie would like to have a final resting place for Shannon but is finding it difficult to make ends meet at the moment, let alone save up the £3,500 required for a burial plot.

She said: “Two years on, we have felt the whole effect of this, not just the shock of my daughter’s life being taken so suddenly but the shock and horror of everything she would have gone through.

“What I was left to deal with was surreal, I couldn’t believe it.

“I've had to deal with identifying her, making funeral plans, going to the house she was killed in to collect her belongings, and two years of court cases.

“I’m not the same person anymore. I live with this shock every single day. Losing my daughter, my Shan has broken me into a million pieces, I never expected this in my life.”

Jackie added: “I don't have a lot, I live on the bare minimum.

“I was in debt with the funeral directors for nearly a year and I've finally paid it off by myself.

“I am making a GoFundMe to ask for help because it's my only option.

“Please donate if you can, every penny will be much appreciated from the bottom of my heart this money will be going towards my daughter Shannon’s headstone and plot at the crematorium.

“It's her final resting place and I know she deserves this, I just can't do this by myself as I am struggling.

“Thank you for supporting me and my daughter.”

A few days after Shannon died, her friends gathered in The Circle in Pinehurst to release balloons and lanterns in her memory.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/yujjw-shannons-final-resting-place.

Her friend Chloe said: "It's been such a traumatic and overwhelming time, we miss her dearly.

"She was amazing, she had the biggest heart, she would have done anything for anyone.”