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Nicola Bulley – latest: Any trace of missing dog walker will have disappeared, says former officer

BySpotted UK

Feb 12, 2023
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Specialist dive company boss looking for missing Nicola Bulley speaks out

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Any trace of Nicola Bulley beside the river where she was last seen will now have disappeared, according to a former police officer from the area.

Riverbanks and fields like the one in St Michael’s on Wyre where the mother of two walked are “not very forensically friendly”, the ex-officer said – especially as lots of boot prints from other people will have been since made in the ground.

Earlier, a former senior Metropolitan Police officer claimed police were wrong to say Ms Bulley had fallen into the River Wyre.

Philip Flower, an ex-superintendent, said “neither the facts nor the evidence” supported Lancashire Constabulary’s official theory.

Ms Bulley was last seen walking her dog in a field near the river in St Michaels on Wyre on 27 January.

But writing in The Mail on Sunday, Mr Flower wrote: “Ms Bulley was a good swimmer. The water wasn’t fast flowing. There are no slip marks on the riverbank.”

Ms Bulley’s family also dispute the police theory that she fell into the river.

Lancashire Constabulary said they were still searching the river but the focus of the investigation had moved downstream to an area that becomes tidal near the coast.

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‘We need you home’: Messages on yellow ribbons

Friends and family have shown that the missing mother of two has not been forgotten by leaving yellow ribbons with handwritten messages on a bridge close to where she disappeared.

A large poster with a photograph of Ms Bulley has also been attached to the railings:

Handwritten messages on yellow ribbons left for missing mother Nicola Bulley

Ms Bulley vanished on January 27 while walking her springer spaniel Willow in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire

Jane Dalton12 February 2023 18:441676226025

Police still looking for clues

Police were still searching for clues in the area today:

(PA)
(PA)

Jane Dalton12 February 2023 18:201676224390

Any trace of Nicola will now be gone from site, says ex-police officer

Any trace of Nicola Bulley on the stretch of river where she was last seen will now be gone, a former Lancashire police officer has said.

Riverbanks are “not very forensically friendly”, he said. Liam James reports:

Any trace of Nicola Bulley will now be gone from disappearance site, says ex-cop

Riverside where missing dog walker last seen ‘not very forensically friendly’ says retired Lancashire officer

Jane Dalton12 February 2023 17:531676220019

ICYMI: Missing Nicola Bulley’s partner says ‘something happened that day’ as family ‘in hell’

Paul Ansell tells Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley?’ the family will never give up the search in 75 minute special

Joe Middleton reports:

Nicola Bulley’s partner says ‘something happened that day’ as family ‘in hell’

Paul Ansell tells ‘‘Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley?’ the family will never give up the search in 75 minute special

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 16:401676218819

5 things forensics expert claims don’t add up about dog walker’s disappearance

From the mobile phone on the bench to the calmness of her dog, this is what the divers ‘can’t get their head around’.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports:

5 things forensics expert claims don’t add up about missing dog walker disappearance

From the mobile phone on the bench to the calmness of her dog, this is what the divers ‘can’t get their head around’

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 16:201676217324

ICYMI: ‘Police say my missing uncle fell in the river – why aren’t they helping us like Nicola Bulley?’

The family of a missing man presumed to have fallen into a river has criticised the police’s handling of the case compared to the huge search for Nicola Bulley.

Will Mata and Adam Dutton report:

‘Police say missing uncle fell in river – why don’t they help like Nicola Bulley?’

Mark Bishop has not been seen since January 7 but his family is frustrated at the relative lack of attention his case has had

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 15:551676215495

ICYMI: Missing dog walker Nicola Bulley’s final text before she disappeared revealed

Missing dog walker Nicola Bulley’s final text before she “vanished into thin air” has been revealed.

The 45-year-old was last seen walking her dog by the river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on Friday 27 January. She was still logged into a Microsoft Teams call which had ended at 9.30am when her phone was recovered.

Just half an hour earlier, the mother of two had texted a friend to book a playdate. She sent the message at 8.57am shortly before logging into the Teams call, locals at a village meeting were told.

Eleanor Royce reports:

Missing dog walker Nicola Bulley’s final text before she disappeared revealed

The 45-year-old mother of two arranged a playdate with a friend just minutes before she disappeared

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 15:241676213419

‘Nothing to suggest’ tatty red van spotted on day of Nicola Bulley disappearance is suspicious

There is “nothing to suggest” the red van spotted on the day of Nicola Bulley’s disappearance is suspicious, Lancashire Police have said.

Police have confirmed that they are making efforts to identify the owner but there is no reason to suspect it is anything other than one of many hundreds of vehicles in the area that morning.

Martha McHardy reports:

‘Nothing to suggest’ red van spotted on day Bulley vanished is suspicious

Police have confirmed that they are making efforts to identify the owner of the van

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 14:501676211319

ICYMI: Witness ‘saw two suspicious men’ before Nicola Bulley’s disappearance

A witness has told police he saw two men acting suspiciously near the route that Nicola Bulley regularly walked her dog on the day before her disappearance, it has been claimed.

The witness, who did not wish to share his account publicly, said he spotted the pair outside the church in St Michael’s on Wyre and on a nearby bridge on 26 January.

A worker at a local garage said the witness gave information to police after officers asked for anyone who had been in the area around the time the mother-of-two was last seen to come forward, according to The Sun.

Liam James reports:

Witness ‘saw two suspicious men’ before Nicola Bulley’s disappearance

Police told men were hanging around local church and bridge over River Wyre, say reports

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 14:151676210174

Messages of hope tied to River Wyre bridge as Nicola Bulley search continues

People have tied yellow ribbons, adorned with messages of hope written on them, to a bridge over the River Wyre as the search for Nicola Bulley continues over two weeks after her disappearance.

The mortgage adviser, 45, vanished on 27 January while walking her dog near the river in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.

Police continue to work on a hypothesis that Ms Bulley fell into the river, but searches have not found anything.

Officers are now working on searching the river towards the sea at Morecambe Bay.

Holly Patrick reports:

Messages of hope tied to River Wyre bridge as Nicola Bulley search continues

People have tied yellow ribbons, adorned with messages of hope written on them, to a bridge over the River Wyre as the search for Nicola Bulley continues over two weeks after her disappearance. The mortgage adviser, 45, vanished on 27 January while walking her dog near the river in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Police continue to work on a hypothesis that Ms Bulley fell into the river, but searches have not found anything. Officers are now working on searching the river towards the sea at Morecambe Bay. Sign up for our newsletters.

Matt Mathers12 February 2023 13:56

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