A tragic event unfolded when a man took h!s own life after informing his wife of his intentions. Mark Petrozzi, a 57-year-old car garage owner, had been struggling with mental health issues for a long time, as revealed during the inquest.
His wife contacted the authorities after receiving a distressing message from him. Police arrived at MP Autos on Duncalf Street in Stoke-on-Trent, where they attempted to resuscitate Mark. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to a brain injury three days later. Following his death on January 2nd, the community honored him with flowers and messages at his business.
Security camera footage showed that Mark entered the garage alone and then covered the cameras with tape. When police investigated, they found letters addressed to various individuals inside the premises. During the court proceedings, Mark’s wife testified that he started his own business in 2004 and acquired the garage, MP Autos, in 2005. She noted that he faced significant stress from his job and the pressures of running a business.
Mark suffered from health issues and was in severe pain, which added to his stress. I was unaware that the medication he was taking had not been prescribed by a doctor. He was a man of pride.
Dr. Nerinder Narhlya noted that Mark experienced recurrent bouts of depression. “From 2012 to 2022, he was prescribed various antidepressant medications,” Dr. Narhlya stated.
“In March 2021, I had a phone consultation with Mr. Petrozzi regarding his depression and neck pain. He informed me that he had been taking medication obtained from a friend, which seemed to help. I advised against acquiring medication sporadically due to the uncertainty of the dosage and suggested that we could prescribe it to ensure proper regulation. Mr. Petrozzi agreed to this.”
I asked Mr. Petrozzi if he had any thoughts of self-harm or su!cide, and he consistently said ‘no,’ except for a brief instance in 2014. He assured me that he would never act on such thoughts due to his deep love for his wife and children.
The most recent episode of depression was noted in October 2022 by my colleague. In my last encounter with him in November 2023, he seemed well-rested, had no appetite loss, presented himself well, and maintained eye contact, with the focus being on his physical health.
Mark’s brother suggested that medical professionals should have been more persistent in recommending therapy, given his history of mental health issues. He cited examples of individuals who benefited from therapy and reduced their reliance on medication.
The Area Coroner, Daniel Howe, concluded that Mark’s death was a suicide, noting that Mark had left behind evidence of his intentions. Mark was found in the garage of MP Autos, resuscitated at the hospital, but suffered a brain injury. The Coroner stated there was no third-party involvement, no apparent warning signs of intent to commit suicide, and no previous suicide attempts. However, the evidence indicated Mark’s intention to end his own life.