Ellen’s ongoing search for justice began with the tragic death of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney. Jools had a wonderful Easter hols with friends in Cheltenham. It was an ordinary day—seemingly full of hope and promise. Yet, in an instant, that day turned fatal, raising questions that continue to rattle his mother.
At 8:46 PM, Jools’ friend departed, leaving him alone in their home. Ellen, who had been out all day, maintained constant communication with her son and called him at 9:56 PM to inform him she would be returning soon. And once Jools failed to respond, fear turned to panic almost immediately.
Shockingly, when Ellen’s partner (also a pilot) returned home soon after, he ran upstairs to find Jools dead. He started CPR himself, trying in vain to coax his little brother back to life. For Ellen, in those torturous minutes, it was disbelief and horror.
“What just happened? You can’t take it in. This made no sense at all. He was a really happy, fun-loving, popular kid … there’d been no sign of mental health issues – nothing.” – Ellen Roome
In the immediate aftermath of Jools’ death, Ellen found his room untouched, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding his passing. The coroner’s investigation was finished in half an hour, proclaiming there were no indications of an intruder or fight. This swift investigation left Ellen feeling unsettled.
Ellen’s fight to get the answers deepened when she was finally able to get Jools’ phone back. She managed to find out the pin number and put £20k of her own money into a forensic scan of the device. In part, frustrations with the local forensics unit spurred this decision. Even the machine in Gloucester broke down when she first started going for help.
Ellen believes Jools’ death may be associated with a concerning online trend known as the “blackout challenge.” This social media challenge dares participants to see how long they can hold their breath before losing consciousness. She has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok. She wants accountability for the role social media may have played, and continues to play, in this tragedy.
“In the lawsuit, we only need to show a 50% chance that this could have been the result of social media in order to progress … then they’d have to release the data.” – Ellen Roome
Her determination has garnered attention and support. A petition advocating for parents’ rights to access their children’s social media accounts quickly amassed over 120,000 signatures in just nine days. Ellen’s dream is that this new community will make the internet more transparent about what is trending online that could be dangerous to young lives.
Despite the overwhelming grief and confusion, Ellen faces each day with resilience. She often reflects on the profound loss she has endured.
“I collapsed into just about existing and I was in denial. Three years down the line, I still expect him to walk in the door sometimes.” – Ellen Roome
Ellen’s fight was not only for justice for her son but for other parents who would have to go through this nightmare again. Her anger targets social media companies that she says have put their corporate interests above the welfare of their teenage users.
“They’re protecting themselves. Surely, they should be saying: ‘Here you are, bereaved parents, I hope you get some answers.’” – Ellen Roome
She fights for justice like a woman possessed. Her passion comes from a genuine need for accountability and change in how social media platforms create and moderate potentially harmful challenges.
“But if we get to the end, and we find that social media did play a part, I will not let them get away with it. I’ve got absolutely nothing left to lose.” – Ellen Roome
As the case progresses and more information emerges from her forensic examinations and legal pursuits, Ellen remains hopeful for clarity regarding Jools’ tragic end.
“I asked police if this could have been the same thing, a blackout challenge. I’ll never forget their answer,” – Ellen Roome
She tells the story of how law enforcement knew it could be but said they couldn’t prove it.
“They said: ‘It could be but we can’t prove it.’” – Ellen Roome
As Jools would have been turning 18 next July 2024, Jools is sorely missed by all that knew him. Each day is a celebration of his colorful personality and a commemoration of the life he never got to live.