A TALENTED musician from Wrexham took his own life after being "freaked out" by what he claimed to have found in an Ebay package delivered to his flat, an inquest heard.

Marc Lee Evans, 48, was found hanged at his residence on Laburnum Grove in Caego on October 21, 2020.

At County Hall in Ruthin on Wednesday (March 3) an inquest was held into the father-of-one's death.

It heard that Mr Evans, who had once had a promising music career ahead of him, had suffered mental health-related issues for over 20 years; principally paranoia, schizophrenia and OCD.

His mental health issues curtailed his burgeoning music career in the 1990s, with him having been well-known in the Wrexham area and beyond for being one of the pioneers of 'black metal' - a sub-genre of heavy metal music.

The court heard that Mr Evans was known to suffer from serious anxiety issues, and would often be in a state of worry about things like having his benefits cut and Department for Work and Pensions benefit assessments.

The inquest was told that the Covid-19 pandemic had a "huge effect" on him - with Mr Evans said to be too anxious to leave his flat in fear of contacting the virus, as well as worrying for his mother and step dad.

Despite Mr Evans' mental health issues, the court heard evidence from his assigned social worker from the community mental health team, Ella Wren, who stated she and his consultant doctor never feared Mr Evans would take his own life.

Miss Wren said he had mentioned about suicidal thoughts, but had never talked of having a plan, or method of how he would end his own life - which is deemed to be the escalated stage of suicidal intentions.

The court heard evidence from Mr Evans' mum, Elaine Roberts, and best friend, John Matthew Kennedy, which stated that in the weeks and months before his death, he had seemed in as good a mental state as ever.

Mr Kennedy said based on his contact with Mr Evans in the days prior to his death, he thought his friend was "on good form" - and they had been exchanging light-hearted and jokey-type messages. He said he had feared much more for Mr Evans in years past.

Mrs Roberts told the court that as little as 12 hours before he was found dead, he had seemed in good spirits based on their communication - with Mr Evans even texting a friend about her needing to try a new style of burger.

However, the inquest was then told of the contents of a letter sent to Mr Kennedy by Mr Evans prior to his death.

It stated Mr Evans had ordered a book off Ebay on October 6. The package arrived a day or so later but due to Covid-19 guidelines, Mr Evans waited a week to open it.

Upon opening the package, Mr Evans claimed he found alongside the book a tarantula type spider.

He also claimed to have found in the package a couple of dark coloured seeds, and said a brown stain had marked one of the pages of the book. He then goes on to state that in the following days he found other spiders in his flat similar to the one he claimed to have found in the Ebay package.

The letter stated that Mr Evans had bought the package from a man called 'Warren' from the Midlands. Mr Evans states in the letter that he believed it be the same 'Warren' who he had had a feud with 20 years earlier.

In his days as a musician, Mr Evans and fellow members of his band were said to have had a feud with a journalist named 'Warren' who had written a scathing article about them.

In the letter, Mr Evans states that the Ebay seller, under the name of 'Warren', also advertised selling tarantulas and other arachnids, as well as 'black metal' CDs and associated products - leading to him believing him to the same 'Warren' he had a dispute with 20 years ago.

The letter states that Mr Evans was "proper freaked out" by the situation and asked Mr Kennedy in a text message which the letter was attached to contact the police on his behalf.

Concerned about the letter and message, Mr Kennedy attended Mr Evans' home address on the evening of October 21. After banging on the windows and door of Mr Evans flat without reply, he contacted Mr Evans' mum.

Mrs Roberts had a key for the flat and attended the property with her husband - who found Mr Evans' dead body.

His family and the community mental health team were said to be "absolutely shocked" by his death, which they say they never saw coming.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of his death was asphyxia by hanging. Blood and urine tests for toxicology found only traces of Mr Evans' prescribed medication at therapeutic levels.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, David Lewis, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, described it as a "tragedy to lose a very fine young man".

He said the incident outlined in the letter "clearly had a massive impact", with Mr Evans said to be "clearly very freaked out".

Those who knew him describe Mr Evans as a "kind, intelligent, loving and sensitive man", and acclaimed guitarist - who is said to have largely kept his mental health issues private.