Hastings mother's plea over daughter's death
The parents of an A-level student who was found dead at home following a night out have called on her friends to come forward with information.
The body of Kate McLoughlin, 18, from Ore in Hastings, was discovered slumped over her bed by her mother Pauleen on 1 August.
Police believe she had been experimenting with drugs and are not treating her death as suspicious.
But the family want to know where she went on the night before her death.
Ms McLoughlin said: "Kate's stepfather and I are devastated by the loss of our wonderful, clever, talented daughter.
"She had a glittering university future in front of her, now lost because of a misplaced temptation to try out recreational drugs that seemed to her to be 'harmless' and 'what everyone else her age was doing'.
"She always took care of her friends and cared about their safety. We are sad that no-one seemed to take care of her on her last night."
Kate, a student at Bexhill College, contacted her mother during the afternoon of 31 July to say she would not be joining her on a shopping trip.
Ms McLoughlin has asked for anyone who was with her daughter later that evening to contact police.
She said: "It will not bring back our beautiful girl but it will answer painful questions for us and her grieving friends."
Det Insp Emma Heater said: "Although Kate's death is not being treated as suspicious, not knowing where or who she was with on the Saturday night is of great distress to her family."