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The sister of missing dog walker Nicola Bulley has disputed police claims that the 45-year-old “fell in the river.”
Lancashire Police stated in a press conference held on Friday afternoon that they believe Ms Bulley is likely to have gone into the water in St Michael’s on Wyre whilst walking her dog.
The theory supposes that the mother fell during a 10-minute window, as police do not believe there is any criminal or third-party involvement.
However, Ms Bulley’s sister, Louise Cunningham, has questioned the idea. She urged the public to “keep an open mind” in a social media post on Friday evening, adding that there is “no evidence” her sister fell into the water.
In an interview with Sky News, Ms Bulley’s close friend Emma White disputed that a ball had been taken on the walk.
“Willow used to love a tennis ball, but it used to disturb the walk so they haven’t had the tennis ball since way into last year”, Ms White confirmed. “There was definitely no ball.”
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Missing dogwalker’s sister disputes police theory that she fell in river
The sister of missing dog walker Nicola Bulley has disputed police claims that the 45-year-old “fell in the river.”
Lancashire Police stated in a press conference held on Friday afternoon that they believe Ms Bulley is likely to have gone into the water in St Michael’s on Wyre whilst walking her dog.
The theory supposes that the mother fell during a 10-minute window, as police do not believe there is any criminal or third-party involvement.
However, Ms Bulley’s sister, Louise Cunningham, has questioned the idea. She urged the public to “keep an open mind” in a social media post on Friday evening, adding that there is “no evidence” her sister fell into the water.
Click here for the full story.
Police officers on the River Wyre, in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley
(PA Wire)
Sam Rkaina4 February 2023 08:581675522819
Nicola Bulley: Friend says ‘factual evidence’ needed as she questions police ‘hypothesis’
Family and friends of Nicola Bulley have questioned a police update suggesting the mother-of-two fell into the river.
Officers believe Ms Bulley, 45, “sadly” fell into the River Wyre while walking her dog last Friday but are continuing the search.
“When we are talking about a life we can’t base it on a hypothesis – surely we need this factual evidence,” friend Emma White told Sky News.
“We still have no evidence and that’s why we’re out together in force. You don’t base life on a hypothesis.”
Oliver Browning reports:
Nicola Bulley friend questions police ‘hypothesis’ and says ‘factual evidence’ needed
Family and friends of Nicola Bulley have questioned a police update suggesting the mother-of-two fell into the river. Officers believe Ms Bulley, 45, “sadly” fell into the River Wyre while walking her dog last Friday but are continuing the search. “When we are talking about a life we can’t base it on a hypothesis – surely we need this factual evidence,” friend Emma White told Sky News. “We still have no evidence and that’s why we’re out together in force. You don’t base life on a hypothesis.” Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 15:001675521019
How have police been investigating Nicola Bulley’s disappearance?
In a press conference held on Friday afternoon, Lancashire Police confirmed that their working hypothesis on 45-year-old Nicola Bulley’s disappearance is that “for whatever reason”, she fell into the river.
Police are confident that Ms Bulley has not left the field where she was last seen. They believe that nothing untoward has happened to her, and do not suspect third-party involvement.
But what has the inquiry into Ms Bulley’s disappearance involved, and how have police conducted their investigation?
The work has included:
- Extensive and thorough searches of the river and footpaths by specialist police search teams and partner agencies including HM Coastguard, mountain rescue and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. Resources have included specialist search dogs, drone, police helicopter and divers. These searches are continuing.
- A team of detectives working behind the scenes analysing telephony, house to house, CCTV, dashcam and carrying out other digital enquiries and examining information coming into the inquiry
- Several public appeals for information and to trace witnesses. Key witnesses have all now been traced.
Ms Bulley was last seen on January 27 at around 9.20am on the footpath by the river off Garstang Road.
Anybody who has seen Nicola Bulley, or has information about where she might be, is asked to call 101, quoting log 565 of January 30. For immediate sightings, please call 999.
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 14:301675519219
Women ‘fearful of going out’ in village where Nicola Bulley vanished
Women are fearful of going out in the village where dog walker Nicola Bulley vanished a week ago, a potential witness traced by police has said.
Christine Bowman, 67, had been identified as a dog walker who may have been one of the last people to see Ms Bulley before her disappearance last Friday morning as she walked her dog near the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
But after Ms Bowman, a retired teacher, was traced following a police appeal, she told the Daily Mirror she had already spoken to officers and “doesn’t know anything”.
She added: “It has made local women fearful. If they have husbands or partners, they have been taking the dogs out instead.”
Lancashire Police, who have launched a huge search operation, said that despite “unanswered questions”, people should not “speculate or spread false rumours” about the disappearance.
Read more:
Women ‘fearful of going out’ in village where Nicola Bulley vanished
The 45-year-old mother-of-two disappeared last Friday while walking her dog near the River Wyre in Lancashire.
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 14:001675517419
Police reveal what missing dog walker Nicola Bulley was wearing before she vanished
Police have revealed the clothes missing dog walker Nicola Bulley was last seen wearing before she disappeared.
Holding a press conference on Friday afternoon, Lancashire Police said they believe thatMs Bulley fell into the River Wyre. This incident is “not suspicious” but a “tragic case of a missing person,” the force said.
Superintendent Sally Riley gave a list of clothing and accessories police are searching for in connection with Ms Bulley.
“I do have an update on the clothing that Nicola was last seen wearing, and this is something that the public who live in the area, or who walk their dogs on the river path near to St Michael’s or downstream of St Michael’s towards Morecambe Bay, can look out for,” she said.
“They are an ankle-length black quilted gilet jacket, a black Engelbert Strauss waist-length coat which was worn underneath the gilet, tight-fitting black jeans, long green walking socks tucked into her jeans, ankle-length green Next wellies, a necklace and a pale blue Fitbit.
“It’s really important that the public pay heed to those very specific clothing descriptions please, because factual sightings of those items would be very useful to us.”
Read more:
Police reveal what missing dog walker Nicola Bulley was wearing before she vanished
Lancashire Police believe missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley fell into the River Wyre
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 13:301675515619
The final email and an abandoned Teams call: Timeline of dog walker’s mysterious disappearance
The last known movements of missing dog walker Nicola Bulley have been revealed by police.
Nicola Bulley, 45, a mortgage advisor, was last seen on Friday morning at around 9.20am while walking her dog alongside the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
She had just dropped off two her daughters, aged six and nine, at the local school in the village.
Ms Bulley’s phone was found, apparently still engaged on a work call, on a park bench nearby, along with the harness and lead for her dog, Willow, a springer spaniel.
Her parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, have since spoken of their “dread” at the thought of never seeing her again, and of hearing their grandchildren “sobbing” after being told “mummy is lost”.
Here, Matt Mathers takes a look at her last known movements:
Timeline of Nicola Bulley’s mysterious disappearance
Police have released a timeline of Nicola Bulley’s last known movements
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 13:001675513819
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.
Ms Bulley had just dropped her two daughters, aged six and nine, at school on Friday morning.
Read more:
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
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 12:301675512019
Mystery of mother who vanished during a work conference call
Walking your dog, going for a coffee, popping out for a run: all normal activities carried out daily with minimal issue.
However, for mother-of-two Nicola Bulley, a walk along the River Wyre has turned into a sizable mystery sparking a missing person investigation after the 45-year-old vanished off Garstang Road in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, leaving just her Spaniel.
Emergency crews including Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue team and the North West Underwater Search Team have joined the investigation, while Lancashire Police have spoken to two potential witnesses.
An unknown man aged around 70, white, 6ft tall, well-built, who was walking a small white fluffy dog on a lead, is believed to have been in the area around the time Ms Bulley disappeared.
The second potential witness was spotted on CCTV at 8:48am close to the area where Ms Bulley was last seen. She was also walking a small, white dog and is described as wearing a red and white coat with a fur hood, and a bobble hat. Police said they had traced both witnesses.
Thomas Kingsley reports:
Nicola Bulley: Mystery of mortgage adviser who vanished while walking her dog
Nicola Bulley, 45, is still missing five days after taking her dog for a walk , reports Thomas Kingsley
Eleanor Noyce4 February 2023 12:001675510815
Friends call for ‘factual evidence’ rather than hypothesis
✕Friend of Nicola Bulley says 'factual evidence' needed as she questions police 'hypothesis'Sam Rkaina4 February 2023 11:401675508809
What have the police been doing to find her?
Lancashire Police provided an update on the search efforts on Friday.
“It’s now a week since the mum of two went missing and since last Friday we have been carrying out extensive searches in the area along with many other inquiries in the background,” a statement said, before listing the latest activities.
- Extensive and thorough searches of the river and footpaths by specialist police search teams and partner agencies including HM Coastguard, mountain rescue and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. Resources have included specialist search dogs, drone, police helicopter and divers. These searches are continuing.
- A team of detectives working behind the scenes analysing telephony, house to house, CCTV, dashcam and carrying out other digital enquiries and examining information coming into the inquiry
- Several public appeals for information and to trace witnesses. Key witnesses have all now been traced. We are grateful to the media for all their coverage and to the community for their help, information and support.
Sam Rkaina4 February 2023 11:06
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