Cause of Death Revealed for Mom of 3 Last Seen Buying Groceries

A mother whose body was found in a lake after she was last seen buying groceries at a gas station suffered an “unnatural” death, authorities have confirmed.

Rachel Booth, 38, was reported missing during the early hours of July 19, after she was last seen by family in the village of Barnton in the Northwich area in the U.K., the Cheshire Constabulary said in a previous news release.

She was reportedly spotted on video visiting a gas station around 3:50 a.m. local time on the day she vanished. Police said a body was subsequently found in a lake in Oakmere on July 21, before later confirming that it was Booth.

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 3, a hearing at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in the town of Warrington heard that Booth’s cause of death had been deemed “unnatural,” coroner’s officer, Paul Downey, said in an email to PEOPLE.

Downey had said at the hearing, “Rachel was reported missing from home on July 19. Sadly she was found deceased on July 21 in the lake at Delamere Lake Holiday Park,” per outlets including The Independent and the Daily Mail.

The court heard that Booth had been identified by her sister. She was referred to as Rachel Langley during the inquest, The Independent noted.

Coroner Victoria Davies had told the inquest that Booth’s death was “unnatural,” per the outlet.

“Given that an unnatural cause of death has been identified on the post-mortem it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into the [cause of] death of Rachel Langley,” Davies said.

A spokesperson for Cheshire Coroner’s Court told PEOPLE in an email that “information regarding the official cause of death will be available upon the inquest’s conclusion, which is currently scheduled for 27 January 2026.”

The news comes after Cheshire Constabulary said in an updated news release on July 21, “Following extensive appeals and searches in the area, officers have now sadly recovered a body in a lake in Oakmere.”

“Formal identification has taken place and has confirmed it is that of Rachel. Her family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers. They have requested privacy at this time,” police said at the time.

“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner,” the release added.

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Booth had three children, according to ITV, which reported that the gas station where she was last spotted was around five miles away from where her family had last seen her.

A gas station worker told The Sun that Booth bought wine and milk at 3:50 a.m. from the location after going for a 45-minute run.

“It didn’t seem weird, she didn’t seem disturbed or flustered,” the worker added.

ITV previously reported that two underwater search units had been seen arriving at the Delamere Lake Holiday Park, next to Wild Shore Delamere water park, on the morning that Booth’s body was found.

Wild Shore Delamere confirmed on Facebook later that day that the water park would remain closed on July 22, “as a mark of respect” after the body was discovered.

Following Booth’s death, her family said in a statement released by police, “As a family we would also like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the services and businesses that supported Cheshire Police and their officers during the search for Rachel. 

“Rachel, who was known to us as Helena, was a cherished member of our family. She was a guiding light whose strength, love, and devotion touched us all. Her kindness was constant and her presence a strength to everyone she knew, a loving mother, wife, daughter and sister who can never be replaced but always present in our hearts,” they added, per the release.

“Her absence leaves a space, but her smiles are a memory we will treasure [forever],” the family concluded.

Cheshire Constabulary weren’t able to provide further details when contacted by PEOPLE until after the inquest takes place