Rachel O’Hare, the 49-year-old former wife of a wealthy equity executive, was found dead just days after a court hearing over a bitter property dispute with her ex-fiancé, celebrity antiques dealer Owen Pacey, MailOnline reports.
Ms O’Hare had been engaged in a legal battle with Mr Pacey, 60, over a five-storey Georgian mansion in Spitalfields, East London — a fashionable district known for its restored heritage homes. The property, reportedly worth £2.7 million, was at the center of a High Court ownership dispute.
The couple had separated in May 2024 following a highly acrimonious breakup. Ms O’Hare had accused Mr Pacey — a self-made antiques expert whose elite clientele includes Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Kate Winslet and Orlando Bloom — of locking her out of the home, withholding her personal belongings, refusing to cover property bills, and allegedly threatening to damage the interior, which featured Italian chandeliers and high-end designer furniture.
Court documents reveal Ms O’Hare was suing Mr Pacey for legal ownership of the mansion and seeking to recover possessions she claimed remained inside. A trial date had been set in the coming months, with the most recent hearing taking place at Leeds Combined Court on June 26.
Tragically, just four days after that hearing, Ms O’Hare was discovered dead after a fall from a tower block. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Authorities have not released official details, and there is no indication at this stage of foul play. However, her sudden passing has raised questions amid the ongoing legal and personal tensions.
Mr Pacey has not issued a public statement as of yet. The High Court case is expected to be closed unless pursued by her estate or legal representatives.