She died from 10 stab wounds inflicted by her former colleague, Michael Sellers, who was described as "obsessed" with her after she rejected a romantic relationship.
Gracie had reported stalking concerns about Sellers to both their employer and the police before her death, but he received only "words of advice" from law enforcement. A bag of weapons, including a note reading "do not lie," was found near her horse's location a month before her death, but no significant police action was taken.
The inquest aims to determine the circumstances of Gracie Spinks's death and whether police could have done more to investigate the incidents leading up to it. It has raised questions about handling stalking concerns and the need for improved measures to protect potential victims. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that five Derbyshire Police officers had cases to answer for misconduct in connection with the case.