I discovered my son had died once I was on vacation and after checking the cameras for my canine… He’d been useless for hours
A Scottish mother has described the devastating moment she discovered her son had died when she was on holiday in the Dominican Republic – after checking a dog camera at home.
Maryann Taylor, 52, was abroad last September when she noticed something unusual on her security footage.
After spotting her two dogs behaving oddly, she asked a friend of her son, Craig, to visit the house.
Tragically, Craig, who would have celebrated his 31st birthday on March 27, was found dead on the kitchen floor.
His friend, looking through the window, saw his lifeless body, and the police were called. Craig had been alone for hours before being discovered.
Maryann, who suffers from a heart condition and arthritis, has since been left traumatised, unable to escape the memories of the moment.
Every day, she walks past the room where Craig died, and each night, she struggles with flashbacks of the tragic scene.
Maryann Taylor, 52, (right) was abroad last September when she noticed something unusual on her security footage. Pictured with her son, Craig
Maryann told the Daily Record: ‘The first thing I do in the morning is pass by his empty bedroom.
‘The second thing I do is go into the room where he died and was left for all those hours on his own.
‘While I’m trapped in this house, I can barely get through a day.’
Since the devastating loss of her son, Maryann has been fighting for a new council home that suits her needs.
She has pleaded with Edinburgh Council for a property with space for her two dogs, as well as room for her daughter and carer to visit.
Despite her requests, she says she has been offered unsuitable properties, leaving her in an incredibly difficult situation.
She said: ‘I can’t get any help anywhere. I’m one person, I’m disabled and I’ve got a heart condition and arthritis.
‘My lifeline is my two dogs, I need a house with a garden for them. I can’t go live in a flat, I can’t go up the stairs and there’s nowhere for the dogs to go.’
Adding: ‘I just feel that the system is broken.’
Despite her struggles, Maryann continues to battle the system with the help of her MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton.
He has described her case as one of the most tragic he’s encountered, adding that he’s working closely with the council to find a solution.
Maryann’s GP has written a letter outlining her deteriorating mental health, which has worsened since Craig’s death.
Despite her struggles, Maryann continues to battle the system with the help of her MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton (above)
The letter states that Maryann has a history of anxiety and depression, and since her son’s passing, she has been struggling with suicidal thoughts, flashbacks, and severe distress.
The letter also requests a house with no stairs and a bath to ease her pain, as well as a space for her beloved dogs.
Edinburgh Council has confirmed they are aware of Maryann’s situation and are working with her to find a suitable solution.
However, the mother continues to feel abandoned by the system, struggling to cope with her grief and the overwhelming sense of loss.
‘I’m so tired of fighting,’ she admitted. ‘It’s hard to believe it’s taken me this long to break down.’
Police Scotland said: ‘Around 12.30pm on Sunday, 29 September, 2024 we received a report of the death of a 30-year-old man in a property in the Cotlaws area of Kirkliston.
‘The death is currently unexplained and enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing. A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.’
