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On 27 January 2023, British woman '''Nicola Bulley''' disappeared whilst walking her dog in [[St Michael's on Wyre]], [[Lancashire]], England. [[Lancashire Constabulary]] said that there was no evidence of either suspicious activity or third party involvement in the disappearance and quickly stated that their [[working hypothesis]] was that she had fallen into the [[River Wyre]]. However, an extensive search of the river and surrounding land involving police divers, helicopters, [[sniffer dog]]s and drones found no body. |
On 27 January 2023, British woman '''Nicola Bulley''' disappeared whilst walking her dog in [[St Michael's on Wyre]], [[Lancashire]], England. [[Lancashire Constabulary]] said that there was no evidence of either suspicious activity or third party involvement in the disappearance and quickly stated that their [[working hypothesis]] was that she had fallen into the [[River Wyre]]. However, an extensive search of the river and surrounding land involving police divers, helicopters, [[sniffer dog]]s and drones found no body. |
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On 19 February, her body was found in the river by a |
On 19 February, her body was found in the river by a man and a woman walking their dog, about a mile from where she was last seen; it was subsequently recovered by the police. The following day, Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that the body was Bulley's. The cause of death has not yet been established. |
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The police were criticised for their handling of the case, including releasing private details of Bulley's health. Members of the public, particularly users of social media, were also criticised for travelling to the area during the search and for what the police described as "[playing] private detectives". |
The police were criticised for their handling of the case, including releasing private details of Bulley's health. Members of the public, particularly users of social media, were also criticised for travelling to the area during the search and for what the police described as "[playing] private detectives". |
Revision as of 16:09, 21 February 2023
On 27 January 2023, British woman Nicola Bulley disappeared whilst walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, England. Lancashire Constabulary said that there was no evidence of either suspicious activity or third party involvement in the disappearance and quickly stated that their working hypothesis was that she had fallen into the River Wyre. However, an extensive search of the river and surrounding land involving police divers, helicopters, sniffer dogs and drones found no body.
On 19 February, her body was found in the river by a man and a woman walking their dog, about a mile from where she was last seen; it was subsequently recovered by the police. The following day, Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that the body was Bulley's. The cause of death has not yet been established.
The police were criticised for their handling of the case, including releasing private details of Bulley's health. Members of the public, particularly users of social media, were also criticised for travelling to the area during the search and for what the police described as "[playing] private detectives".
Background
Nicola Jane Bulley, aged 45, was born in Essex in 1977[citation needed] and moved to Lancashire in the late 1990s.[1][2] She had two daughters with her 44-year-old partner,[3] and the family lived in the village of Inskip.[4] Bulley was a mortgage adviser.[4] Bulley suffered from issues relating to alcohol and perimenopause,[5] and police and health professionals attended the family home on 10 January to respond to a "concern for welfare".[6]
Disappearance
On Friday 27 January 2023, Bulley drove from her home to the nearby village of St Michael's on Wyre where, after dropping her children off at school at approximately 08:40 GMT,[7] she walked along the River Wyre with her springer spaniel dog Willow.[4]
At 08:53, Bulley sent an email to her employer.[8] At 08:57 she sent a text to a friend to arrange a playdate for their children that week.[9] She then joined a Microsoft Teams call at 09:01, keeping her phone's camera and microphone disengaged.[8]
She was last seen at approximately 09:10 on a riverside field walking with Willow off the lead.[10][11] At 09:20, Bulley's phone was believed to be in the vicinity of a riverside bench.[7] At 09:30, the Teams call was ended by its host.[12]
At 09:33, a passer-by discovered Bulley's mobile phone (which was still connected to the Teams call) on the bench.[13] Willow was found alone near the bench and showed no signs of having been in the river.[4][14] The dog's harness was found on the ground between the bench and the river.[7][13]
Investigation
After the report of Bulley's disappearance, Lancashire Constabulary immediately graded Bulley as "high risk" because of what they later described as "specific vulnerabilities".[7][15] These vulnerabilities were clarified to be "significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause".[6] The classification increased the priority and resources assigned to the investigation.[7]
The search for Bulley was initially focused on tracing a potential witness, a woman in a red coat spotted on CCTV walking a dog near the site of Bulley's disappearance. She was later identified as a 68-year-old woman, who confirmed she had not seen Bulley.[16][17] On 4 February, police released a CCTV image of another woman who was seen, pushing a pram, in the area at the time of Bulley's disappearance; the police later reported that the woman had come forward very quickly.[18][19]
Searches of the river and riverbank from St Michael's on Wyre to the sea found nothing of interest.[20][21] On 3 February, Lancashire Constabulary stated that they believed the circumstances of Bulley's disappearance were not suspicious, nor criminal and did not involve a third party.[20] Police speculation that Bulley had fallen into the River Wyre was met with criticism and scepticism by Bulley's family and friends. They stated that the hypothesis was unsupported by evidence, whilst Bulley's partner said that he was 100% convinced she was not in the river.[22][12][23] The superintendent of Lancashire Constabulary reiterated that this remained the force's working hypothesis,[12] and they were "as sure as [they] can be" that Bulley had not left the area.[24][25]
The search involved police divers, a helicopter, sniffer dogs and drones,[18] and was assisted by the Coastguard, Mountain Rescue and fire crews.[12] Members of the public helped with the search,[26] and police requested the community look out for Bulley's clothing including a black quilted gilet, a black Engelbert Strauss coat and ankle-length green Wellington boots.[18] She had worn her Fitbit, although its last data synchronization was before her disappearance and its account was not useful to the investigation.[21][27][7]
At a press conference held on 15 February by Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, Lancashire Constabulary stated that there remained no evidence of criminal activity nor of third-party involvement in Bulley's disappearance.[7] Smith was critical of users of social media such as TikTok, who had visited the area "[playing] private detectives"; she stated that false information, speculation and rumour had been detrimental to the police investigation and had adversely affected Bulley's family.[7] Later the same day, the police clarified comments in the conference referring to Bulley's "specific vulnerabilities" and also stated that police had attended a concern for welfare report at her home on 10 January.[6] Police also put in place a dispersal order, after social media video-makers caused a nuisance and disrupted the investigation.[28]
The police's revelation of Bulley's health details was criticised by many. Home Secretary Suella Braverman asked the force to explain its decision, whilst Vera Baird commented that, if publicising the details would have aided the search, it should have been done immediately and said otherwise she thinks it was sexist.[29] Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer both expressed concerns;[30] other critics included Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt,[31] and MPs Stella Creasy and Alicia Kearns.[32] Lancashire Constabulary's media strategy as a whole has been criticised as having encouraged rumour and speculation.[33]
Private search team
Peter Faulding, the head of an independent search team involved in the search, described Bulley's disappearance as "strange". He said that in his 20-year career he had "never seen something so unusual".[34][35] After an extensive search of the River Wyre, the underwater team looking for Bulley pulled out of the operation believing that she was not in the section of the river where detectives believed she fell in. Faulding said that his team were unable to locate her in the area of the River Wyre, stating: "That area is completely negative—there is no sign of Nicola in that area. The main focus will be the police investigation down the river, which leads out to the estuary." Faulding believed it was unlikely that Bulley had been swept out to sea, adding, "My personal view is that I think it is a long way to go in a tidal river."[36] On 9 February, the search moved to Morecambe Bay, the mouth of the River Wyre.[37]
Recovery of body
On 19 February, police said a body had been found in the river, by a man and a woman out walking their dog,[38] about one mile (1.6 km) downstream of where Bulley was last seen.[39][40][41] The body, which was among reeds and undergrowth, was subsequently recovered.[39][41] Police set up a tent beside the river and a police helicopter operated above the area.[42] Some members of the public tried to take photos of the body by climbing over a fence and pretending to be journalists.[43]
On 20 February, Lancashire Constabulary confirmed publicly that the body found in the river was indeed that of Bulley. The cause of death has not yet been established.[44] They read an impact statement from Bulley's family in which they condemned the actions of Sky News and ITV News for making contact directly with them when they expressly asked for privacy, describing the conduct of media outlets as "shameful". The family also criticised people accusing Bulley's partner of being involved in her disappearance.[39] Baroness Wheatcroft, former editor of the Sunday Telegraph, also criticised the media for invading the family's privacy, calling it a "feeding frenzy".[45]
See also
References
- ^ O'Leary, Abigail; Bone, Hollie (15 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley cops explain missing mum's health issues that recently resurfaced". Mirror. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ Day-Parker, Jessica (31 January 2023). "Family of missing mum from Essex in 'perpetual hell' as major search continues". The Echo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Missing mother's partner says she's vanished into thin air". BBC News. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d McGuinness, Ross (3 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley: One week on, what happened in the hour before her disappearance?". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Family will 'never understand final moments'". BBC News. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Nicola Bulley: Missing mother had alcohol issues, police say". BBC News. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nicola Bulley: Lancashire Police hold press conference amid search for missing mother". BBC News. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ a b Lough, Catherine; Johnston, Neil (15 February 2023). "A minute-by-minute look at the crucial 24 hours when Nicola Bulley vanished". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Atkinson, Emily (16 February 2023). "Timeline of Nicola Bulley case as police say they visited home before disappearance". Independent. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Grierson, Jamie; Rawlinson, Kevin (3 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley: the mystery of 10-minute window in which she disappeared". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley search: What we're missing dog walker's movements before she disappeared?". Sky News. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Nicola Bulley: Missing mother fell in river, police believe". BBC News. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ a b O'Leary, Abigail; Macpherson, Jon (2 February 2023). "Passerby raised the alarm after finding Nicola's 'worried' dog wandering alone". LancsLive. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Missing mum's family 'stuck in a nightmare'". BBC News. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Mother a high-risk missing person, police say". BBC News. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ McGee, Sarah (3 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley: Women 'fearful' of going out despite police reassurance". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Bone, Hollie (3 February 2023). "Mystery woman in red coat tells police she didn't see missing mum-of-two". Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Nicola Bulley: Witness comes forward in search for missing mum". BBC News. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Witness comes forward in Nicola Bulley case as police warn against speculation". The Guardian. 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Nicola Bulley case - latest: Issue with dog could have led missing Nicola Bulley to river, police say". Sky News. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Missing Nicola Bulley - latest update". www.lancashire.police.uk. Lancashire Constabulary. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Bulley's partner '100% convinced' she's not in river". BBC News. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Sister of missing Nicola Bulley questions police suggestion that missing mother fell into the river". ITV News. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Friend shares images of missing mum on day she vanished". BBC News. 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "'Something's not right': Dive squad brought into Nicola Bulley hunt say they will 'find her if she is in the river'". LBC. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Armstrong, Jeremy; Whittingham, Stewart (5 February 2023). "Last known pics of Nicola Bulley going for school run on day she vanished shared". Mirror. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Topping, Stephen (5 February 2023). "Police 'examining missing dog walker's Fitbit data' in hope to retrace last steps". Independent. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Vinter, Robyn; Grierson, Jamie; Halliday, Josh (20 February 2023). "'Misquoted and vilified': Nicola Bulley's family attack media as body identified". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Home secretary asks police to explain health disclosures". BBC News. 17 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "PM says he is concerned about Nicola Bulley disclosures". BBC News. 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley search: Mordaunt says health revelations sexist and shocking". BBC News. 19 February 2023.
- ^ Brown, Mark (16 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley: MPs criticise police over release of personal details". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Vinter, Robyn (16 February 2023). "'Car crash' police communications on Nicola Bulley case fuelled speculation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley search expert says case is most unusual". BBC News. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Zakir-Hussain, Maryam (8 February 2023). "5 things forensics expert claims don't add up about missing dog walker disappearance". Independent. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Badshah, Nadeem (8 February 2023). "Underwater team pull out of Nicola Bulley search after no body found". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Police issue update in search for missing Nicola Bulley". News and Star. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/people-sky-news-police-lancashire-constabulary-government-b2285480.html
- ^ a b c "Nicola Bulley: Police to make statement after body found". BBC News. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ Maidment, Adam (19 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley search expert Peter Faulding speaks after police discover body". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Nicola Bulley: Lancashire Police find body in River Wyre". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Roads closed in search for missing mother". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ McGuinness, Ross (20 February 2023). "Nicola Bulley: Members of public 'climb fence to photograph body' found in river". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023 – via AOL.
- ^ Singh, Namita; Skoulding, Lucy; Atkinson, Emily (20 February 2023). "Diver defends Nicola Bulley search after body found in reeds". Independent. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Bulley: Ex-editor demands scrutiny of media coverage". BBC News. 21 February 2023.