When a dog walker discovered a corpse in the River Wyre reeds less than a mile from where Nicola Bulley vanished on January 27, he has admitted that he and the family are in “agony.”
The 45-year-disappearance old’s three weeks ago has kept Paul Ansell, 44, and the couple’s two kids, ages six and nine, from giving up hope that he is still alive.
But yesterday, just before noon on Sunday, two hikers discovered the corpse of a blonde lady entangled in reeds on Lancashire’s River Wyre. While the location was cordoned off, a white tent was set up, and the most senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, was there, police have not verified whether it is Nikki.
The family is reportedly “in a lot of pain” and “very devastated,” and their suffering is expected to worsen given that official identification may take several days.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr. Ansell said: “Agony right now; no words.” We must be strong because we are all united.
Just across the river from where Ms. Bulley’s phone was discovered after she took the family dog for a walk on January 27, police cordoned off the area yesterday.
Several critics have questioned how, after weeks of diligent searching, police and specialized teams were unable to locate the remains less than a mile from the community of Saint Michael’s on Wyre. On the bench where the phone was discovered, flowers have been placed today.
Nusrit Mehtab, a former Scotland Yard superintendent, said, “If it is Nicola, how did they miss that? The decision-making process at Lancashire Police has to be seriously questioned.
According to John O’Connor, a former commander of the Met Police, “these search teams couldn’t detect a currant in a rice pudding.” That a corpse was discovered a mile from where she vanished is pitiful, in my opinion.
For the first 48 hours, officers and divers searched the region where the corpse was discovered, but it had not been examined since February 6 when private search specialist Peter Faulding looked at it.
Instead, efforts were concentrated further downstream, toward the sea.
According to Lancashire Police, it was impossible to determine if the corpse belonged to Ms. Bulley, who was missing. It can take many days to complete formal identification.
We are presently considering the death as unexplained, the official said. The family of Nicola has been updated on the situation, and at this very trying time, our prayers are with them. Please respect their right to privacy.
Mr. Ansell or another close family will likely be approached for assistance in identifying the corpse at this point.
Former Scotland Yard detective inspector Hamish Brown said: “The identification procedure isn’t enjoyable for anybody.” Unfortunately, the family will have to endure another another line of terrible torment, but it must be done.
Mr. Brown clarified that whether or not it can be recognized “visually” “depends on the state of the body.” In addition to DNA testing, they will also search for other items including clothes, personal items, and jewelry, he told GB News.
I haven’t spoken to the family, but it would be irresponsible to say more, local councillor Michael Vincent said. They are suffering greatly since they don’t know.
The family was “very devastated by this momentous development,” according to Sky News. The police statement was shared by members of the BringNikkiHome Facebook group, however comments were restricted because of the subject matter.
Four days ago, close to the area where Ms. Bulley vanished, her parents Ernest, 73, and Dot, 72, were last seen leaving a touching message of hope.
The most recent revelations, according to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, are “heart-breaking and worrisome.”
The chief of police for Lancashire, Andrew Snowden, who has come under fire for remaining silent throughout the hunt, also came out in favor of the police and Ms. Bulley’s family. At a difficult moment, my thoughts are with Nicola’s family and friends, he tweeted. I want to express my gratitude to the Lancs police personnel who worked at the site and across the department.
On the wooden bench where Nicola’s cell phone was abandoned last night, a tiny group of snowdrops and a bouquet of daffodils were placed side by side.
When residents sobbed next to one another on the bridge that spanned the River Wyre in the center of St. Michael’s, a police helicopter flew above. With words of optimism attached, yellow ribbons flailed in the chilly wind.
Nicola Harris, a 62-year-old dog walker, said: “It’s awful, it’s horrifying, but I’m so delighted if she’s been recovered so that her family can go on.” While the matter has been very complicated, at least the family would be able to get some clarification and get her back.
‘That is the news we have all been dreading, but maybe what we knew deep inside,’ a second emotional local said. Really hoping the family may find some peace with this finding. As a community, we are all in shock.
A guy and lady on a Sunday walk along the river saw the corpse. The location where it was discovered was 0.9 miles as seen from the bench where Ms. Bulley’s phone was discovered, or 1.1 miles if one followed the river’s bends.
In the last week, police have become more enraged about social media “detectives” who visited sleepy St. Michael’s and shared their thoughts about what happened to Ms. Bulley with online audiences.
Her family claims that the case has been the subject of “appalling” rumors, with TikTok investigators combing through people’s gardens and leveling “cruel” and unfounded charges against the mortgage adviser’s family.
One eyewitness said, “I drove along Rawcliffe Road for about a mile,” before the finding was officially verified. On the embankment, I saw a guy, a woman, and two police officers.
‘About 11.50 a.m., I pulled over and overheard the guy in the brush talking to cops about something.
The blues and twos were moving as police vehicles were zooming down the road. A few minutes later, a policeman arrived and brought out his drone.
The police chopper showed there five minutes later. As the officers ordered me to exit, I went 200 yards down the road.
The guy was still pointing towards the riverside, and I could still see him plainly. Later, while the blues and twos were moving, additional police vehicles sped down the road. The whole road was cleaned.
The couple was subsequently seen sitting on a wall nearby, looking dejected and vaping.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two, who has kids ages six and nine, was last seen on January 27 walking her dog along the river in St. Michael’s-on-Wyre after dropping them off at school.
Three weeks ago, the community had a major police presence that included dozens of policemen, divers, search specialists, and high-tech tools like drones.
Peter Faulding and other specialized searchers spent days in the region, scouring the river with sonar equipment.
Given that the river was so shallow, Ms. Bulley could have easily “stood up” if she fell in, Mr. Faulding made the rare action of publicly claiming that he did not think she was in the water.
Mr. Faulding tweeted after the finding on Sunday: “Our thoughts are with Nicola’s family and friends at this terrible time.”
Although police claiming their primary working theory was that Ms. Bulley was in the river, her boyfriend Paul Ansell, 44, has continued to hold out hope that she is still alive.
Ms. Bulley, of St. Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, disappeared on January 27 after leaving off her kids, ages six and nine, at school.
She was last seen leaving her daughters, ages nine and six, for school at 9:10 a.m. near the River Wyre on her customary route with her springer spaniel Willow.
Just over 20 minutes later, her dog was free and her phone, which was still on a business call, was discovered on a seat by the riverside.
Former Scotland Yard Detective Peter Bleksley commented on the latest hunt while speaking with Sky News, saying: “If ever there is an indication of intelligence that is received by the police… then seeing lots of resources deployed in a pretty short length of time is not unusual.”
On February 3, Lancashire Police released its primary theory, according to which Ms. Bulley had entered the River Wyre in a “10-minute window” on the morning of her disappearance between 9.10am and 9.20am.
Nevertheless, a number of specialists including Ms. Bulley’s own family claimed they did not think this was the case.
Last Monday, they conducted a second news conference where they discussed personal “vulnerabilities” that led to her being labeled as a “high-risk” missing person case right away.
Hours later, however, they released a startling statement outlining Ms. Bulley’s issues with alcohol, which were exacerbated by severe perimenopausal symptoms and the fact that she had stopped taking her HRT medicine.
The choice to cease taking her hormone replacement treatment (HRT) medications, Ms. Bulley’s family claimed in a statement on Friday, may have contributed to her absence.
According to the statement, “Nikki experienced significant side effects from the perimenopause, including brain fog and restless sleep, and was taking HRT to help. However, this was giving her intense headaches, which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that it may have helped her but only led to this crisis.”
“We all need you back in our lives,” they said, “Nikki is such a great daughter, sister, spouse, and mother and is missed deeply.
The ladies want to snuggle with you, Nikki, and we hope you are reading this and know how much we adore you. We all need your return.
When it was disclosed tonight that one of the best investigators in the Nation was directly helping Lancashire Police on the investigation, today’s news broke.
The NCA, often known as Britain’s FBI, revealed to MailOnline that the anonymous officer has worked on some of the most high-profile crimes in the Country, including the murder of PCSO Julia James and serial murderer and mortuary monster David Fuller.
Ms. Bulley, 45, went without a trace while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, more than three weeks ago. The police have yet to locate her.
A canine behaviorist and forensic psychologist have both provided assistance to Lancashire Police.
That comes after vehement condemnation of police from many quarters, including Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, for disclosing Ms. Bulley’s private medical information this week.
After the 45-year-old went missing on January 27, criticism of the force has been worse.
By declining offers from other forces, including the Metropolitan Police, to undertake the review in its place, Lancashire Police have raised concerns about their inquiry, which looks to have stopped.
Police made public revelations about Nicola Bulley’s struggles with drinking this week, which many criticized as being “sexist.”
Retired police officers have also questioned why simple tasks like forensically sealing up the area where Ms. Bulley’s phone and dog were found were not finished.
The date for the internal review, which will be carried out by the police’s Head of Crime, Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables, has been confirmed by the force, although it has not been made public.
Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, volunteered on Friday to undertake a review on the force’s behalf, but Lancashire Police were criticized for opting to do it themselves.
Also, the police has sent a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigating interactions officers had with Ms. Bulley on January 10 prior to her disappearance.
In the meanwhile, PM Rishi Sunak expressed his satisfaction that police are investigating how the disclosure of personal information occurred during the probe after Lancashire Police confirmed it would undertake an internal assessment.
»Nicola Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, says his family “had to be tough” after her death«
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