Gaynor Lord – latest: Husband ‘totally lost’ as results of post-mortem released

✕Close

Gaynor Lord search: Police say 30 people have come forward with information

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world

Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email

The heartbroken family have told friends of their pain as specialist divers found a body in the hunt for missing Norwich mother Gaynor Lord.

After a week of searching, Norfolk Police confirmed that the as-yet unidentified body was pulled from the River Wensum by underwater search teams on Friday morning. Police have said there is no evidence of third party involvement.

A post-mortem examination of a body found in the search for missing woman Gaynor Lord has found “no indications of any third-party involvement”, Norfolk Police said.

A family friend told The Times: “Gaynor’s husband Clive is totally lost.

“He doesn’t understand at all what’s happened.”

Gaynor’s daughter Charlotte, 24, also shared police appeals several times on social media. Her latest tragic update is confirming a body was found.

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley, Norfolk’s county policing commander, said: “The post-mortem examination has found no signs that any other parties were involved.

“Although our searches have concluded, officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance.

“We will pursue all lines of inquiry to understand why she went missing.”

Recommended

• Gaynor Lord hunt continues as family mark a week since disappearance
• Gaynor Lord: Unanswered questions over mystery of missing mother
• Gaynor Lord: Everything we know about missing mother-of-three
• Timeline of last known movements of missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord

Show latest update

1702836229

Floral tributes laid near gates of Wensum Park after discovery of body

Floral tributes to Ms Lord were laid near the gates of Wensum Park after the discovery of a body on Friday.

One of them said: “Gaynor may you be at peace. God bless your family.”

Two members of the dive team could be seen recovering the body from the river in Norwich on Friday morning after marking the area of water with an orange buoy.

At about 12pm, officers could be seen recovering a body from the river in a black bag.

Police previously confirmed they consulted officers from Lancashire Constabulary who worked on the search for Nicola Bulley.

Maira Butt17 December 2023 18:031702832629

Gaynor Lord search: No third-party involvement in death of woman found in river

Detectives investigating the disappearance of mother-of-three Gaynor Lord have said there is no evidence a third party was involved in the death of a woman whose body was found in a river during the search.

Norfolk Police said a body was found in the River Wensum on Friday.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Saturday morning and found no indication a third party was involved, the force added.

Police said formal identification is due to take place on Sunday and Mrs Lord’s family has been informed of the development.

Gaynor Lord search: No third-party involvement in death of woman found in river

A body was found during the search for Gaynor Lord, who vanished after leaving work in Norwich city centre on December 8.

Maira Butt17 December 2023 17:031702829029

Final CCTV footage of mother-of-three before she went missing

Before Gaynor Lord went missing, CCTV documented her visiting a number of places after leaving early from her workplace.

The footage below shows her last known sighting before she disappeared.

The 55-year-old is seen walking along St Augustine’s Street, Norwich, at 4:01pm on Friday 8 December.

Gaynor Lord: Newly released CCTV footage shows mother's last sighting before disappearingMaira Butt17 December 2023 16:031702825429

What happened to Gaynor Lord’s belongings?

Lydia Patrick reports:

Police found a number of Ms Lord’s belongings scattered in Wensum Park next to the river where they were conducting the main search.

Clothing, a mobile phone and glasses were found dispersed around the park 1.5 miles from her workplace in a department store. Her coat was found in the River Wensum itself.

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley from Norfolk Police said the force had used sonar equipment across the river which was an “extraordinarily challenging environment” for them to work in.

Read here for more unanswered questions in the search for mother-of-three.

Maira Butt17 December 2023 15:031702821829

Gaynor Lord eyewitness says she saw ‘calm’ mother-of-three doing yoga pose in park before disappearance

An eyewitness who saw Ms Lord before she went missing has spoken out.

The witness says she saw the missing mother laying down her coat before performing what appeared to be a yoga pose. She said Ms Lord “appeared quite calm” although felt the action was “odd” for the time of day.

Watch the full statement below.

Gaynor Lord eyewitness who saw mother before she went missing speaks outMaira Butt17 December 2023 14:031702818229

In pictures: Body found and post-mortem examination conducted in Gaynor Lord search

A body has been found in the search for Gaynor Lord. It is yet to be identified and Norfolk Police have confirmed the identification process will take place on Sunday.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Saturday ruled out any “third-party involvement” and police confirmed they were not treating the death as suspicious.

Maira Butt17 December 2023 13:031702814629

Video: Friend of Gaynor Lord details last call

A friend of missing Norwich woman Gaynor Lord has detailed the last phone call she received from her on the day she was last seen.

Ms Lord, a mother of three, was reported missing in Norwich last Friday 8 December after failing to return home from work.

Julie Butcher received a call from Ms Lord at 2.15pm that day but had to cut it short to speak to a client.

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Ms Butcher said: “I said could I call her back and she said ‘yes’.”

She later called Ms Lord but could not get through to her.

Ms Butcher said: “I wish I had never answered that call.”

Friend of Gaynor Lord details last call from missing motherMaira Butt17 December 2023 12:031702811029

Police: ‘We will pursue all lines of enquiry to understand why she went missing'

In a statement on Saturday, Norfolk Police said they would “pursue all lines of enquiry” to understand why mother-of-three Gaynor Lord went missing over a week ago.

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley said: “The post-mortem examination has found no signs that any other parties were involved.

“Although our searches have concluded, officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance.

“We will pursue all lines of inquiry to understand why she went missing.

“Our thoughts remain with Gaynor’s family at this incredibly difficult time.”

Maira Butt17 December 2023 11:031702807366

Wensum Park reopened

Norfolk Police have confirmed that Wensum Park, which was closed throughout the investigation into the missing mother Gaynor Lord, has now reopened.

It comes after a body was recovered in the River Wensum on Friday, a week after the mother-of-three went missing.

A post-mortem examination was concluded on Saturday and police are confident there was no third party involvement.

Maira Butt17 December 2023 10:021702803829

Formal identification due to take place

A post-mortem examination took place on Saturday following the discovery of a body in Wensum Park on Friday in the hunt for missing mother, Gaynor Lord.

Norfolk Police said that “formal identification is due to take place” on Sunday.

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley, Norfolk’s County Policing Commander, said: “The post-mortem examination has found no signs that any other parties were involved.

“Although our searches have concluded, officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance. We will pursue all lines of enquiry to understand why she went missing.

“Our thoughts remain with Gaynor’s family at this incredibly difficult time.”

Maira Butt17 December 2023 09:03NewerOlder✕

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log in

Popular videos

{{/link}}