Mum found dead after gaming friends notice she's been offline for 48 hours

Lauren Black, mother to two sons and resident of Renfrew, Scotland, was found dead in her home after her gaming friend noticed she had been offline for an unusual amount of time. She was 36 years old.

At the moment, Police Scotland are undertaking an investigation into what happened to Black. "We were made aware of the death of a woman at a property on Edgar Crescent in Renfrew around 10:10am on Tuesday, January 3," said a spokesperson in a statement to Glasgow Live. "The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing."

Police were alerted by fellow gamer Eyal Elhadad, one of her longtime friends who she had met on the online game Evony: The Kings Return, who lives in Israel. He phoned the authorities when he and her other gaming friends hadn't heard from her in 48 hours. "Lauren and I have spoken every day for the last four years, so for her not to answer my messages or log onto the game was very worrying to me and other online family members," he said.

"It was very out of character for Lauren. We exchanged messages on New Year's Day and then there was no further communication," continued Elhadad. "It will be a happy new year, for both of us," messaged Black in the game's in-game chat. "And whatever happens, we have each other."

Elhadad was wracked with worry when no one could confirm Black was online at any point past 1 January, contacting the police and her dog walker from his home in Israel. "I pleaded with them to check on her as we were all so worried. I just wanted to know she was okay," he said.

Iris Black, her mother, told Glasgow Live that her family are "beyond devastated" by her daughter's death. "Our family are just so glad we were able to spend Christmas with Lauren. Her health has been in decline for a while now and we think it might be as a result of long Covid," she explained. "The full details of what happened have yet to be made clear to us."

GAMINGbible's thoughts are with Lauren Black's friends and family in this heartbreaking time.