Father pays tribute to ‘daddy’s girl’ found dead at private school after being given first detention
Jonathan Scott-Lee said his daughter, like him, was autistic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The father of a private school pupil who is believed to have taken her own life paid tribute to his “daddy’s girl” at an inquest into her death.
Caitlyn Scott-Lee, 16, was found dead at Wycombe Abbey school in Buckinghamshire on April 21 last year, the day before she was due to have her first ever detention.
The inquest, at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court on Monday, heard Caitlyn received the detention after alcohol was found in her locker.
Her father, senior banker Jonathan Scott-Lee, told the inquest that Caitlyn was a “daddy’s girl”.
“I took care of her, dressed her, cuddled her, fed her, and soothed her,” he said.
“As she grew as a toddler, there would be bitter-sweet moments where she would stand by the window of our home and cry as I left for my daily commute.
“Little did she know I would return each evening.”
Mr Scott-Lee said his daughter, like him, was autistic.
“It is a myth that people with autism don’t have much emotion,” he said.
He said their feelings were “amplified” as they are “internal”.
“Caitlyn was so much more than autism, Wycombe Abbey, and detention,” he said.
He told the inquest he had looked through a photo album after her death.
He said: “I saw photos of Caitlyn obtaining her scuba diving licence at age 10 in the Philippines, playing tennis in Scotland, modelling in Singapore, camping in Wales, riding helicopters in New Zealand, skiing across Japan, honing rifle marksmanship in Birmingham, driving at age 13 at Mercedes Brooklands, and hiking the Great Wall of China.
“Even I was surprised at how full a life Caitlyn lived in 6,041 days.”
The inquest heard that staff began to search for Caitlyn after she failed to return in time for curfew at her boarding school accommodation on April 21.
She was then found in a secluded area of the school.
Mr Scott-Lee shared his daughter’s final diary entry after her death, in which she thanked her friends for their love, wished them luck and said goodbye.
In the note Caitlyn recounts running away from a school trip to Eton College as a cry for help.
“I hope this is my last diary entry. I want to kill myself tomorrow,” the entry, written the night before her death, is reported to have read.
Speaking of how the threat of detention had been playing on her mind, she writes: “Running away was the best cry out for help I could give and you [Wycombe] responded with ‘we’d normally punish you but you’re already getting punished’.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.