Isle of Man Widow Faces ‘Paupers’ Funeral’ in Cyprus
Patricia Lambert, 86, who died in Paphos on January 11, may be given a paupers’ funeral by the state unless her family is found soon. The mystery surrounding her next of kin deepens amid reports of fraud and squatters in her Cyprus apartment.
Fraud and Squatters Add to Tragedy
Ken Corlett, a financial investigator with the Isle of Man Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit, revealed disturbing details. Fraudulent withdrawals have been made from Patricia’s Isle of Man bank account since her death. Meanwhile, squatters—described as aggressive Bulgarian men who don’t speak English—are currently occupying her apartment in Kato Paphos.
“Officers said they couldn’t evict them unless a family member steps forward,” a friend told the Cyprus Mail. “She deserves a decent burial at least. She can’t be buried like an anonymous poor person while squatters enjoy her estate and spend her money.”
Desperate Search for Family Hits Dead Ends
Corlett has exhausted all leads to find Patricia’s relatives without success. He’s scoured employment records, financial documents, insurance policies, and even enlisted a specialist relative-tracing company. Some clues hint she may have had a relative named Rosemary Lambert and was possibly married twice, but no confirmed family connections emerged.
“I thought of social media, but it’s such a common name,” Corlett said. Even the British High Commission in Nicosia, which holds Patricia’s passport, admitted they could not locate her family.
Body Held, Funeral Pending
Patricia’s body remains at Paphos General Hospital. Without next of kin to arrange a burial, the law says her body can be held in a mortuary for up to a year. After that, she will receive a basic paupers’ funeral paid for by the state, with burial in a government-chosen cemetery.
The situation has left friends and investigators appealing to the public for any information. Corlett has also sought help from Surrey police but was referred to local radio stations instead.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Ken Corlett at [email protected] or the Cyprus Mail at [email protected].
