Nicola Bulley police divers ‘search for specific missing object in river where mother died’ claims forensic pathologist as officers comb water
Police investigating Nicola Bulley’s death are reportedly looking for a “specific” item missing from the scene where she died, a forensic pathologist has claimed.
Specialized police diving squads were filmed on Tuesday, April 4, in Lancashire’s River Wyre, less than a mile from the bank where Nicola disappeared on January 27, sparking a massive 23-day manhunt.
The 45-year-old mother of two went missing after walking her dog by the river in St Michael’s on Wyre.
The search for her involved police, firefighters, mountain rescue services, dive teams and the local community – but her body was tragically found in the river on February 20.
Mrs Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, 44, raised the alarm after a villager saw their spaniel running loose close to a bench overlooking the river. Mrs. Bulley’s mobile phone had been left on the sofa.
Police (pictured in the River Wyre) investigating Nicola Bulley’s death are reportedly looking for a ‘specific’ item missing from the scene where she died, a forensic pathologist has claimed
Mother-of-two Nicola Bulley (pictured), 45, went missing after walking her dog by the river in St Michael’s on Wyre.
Dr. James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, has asked Lancashire Police to return to the water for investigative work to confirm her cause of death and what happened before she was found.
A senior national police source with experience of similar cases told MailOnline earlier this week that the decision to return divers shows how seriously the investigation is being taken.
“The coroner clearly wants more answers and possible evidence,” the insider added.
Forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd, who worked on key cases such as the Stephen Lawrence investigation and was called in as an expert in the Harold Shipman trial, has said police are looking for a missing item, the Mirror reports.
He told the newspaper he was “difficult to see” what they were now looking for that would influence or affect Nicola’s cause of death.
Dr. Shepherd added that the morgue would have performed a post-mortem to reveal any natural illnesses in her system, injuries and samples for alcohol and drugs.
He said he thought they were looking for an “artifact of some kind” which they can’t find, but which they believe is in the river. He says the police don’t want any member of the public to find it.
He said it was unlikely police were trying to reconstruct how her body flowed down the river because there are too many variables, such as reeds and branches getting in the way and the exact river flow, to recreate it correctly.
The coroner has ordered Lancashire Police to return to the river to assist in Nicola’s upcoming inquest, which will determine her cause of death.
Police had searched the area where Nicola was found twice before a member of the public discovered her body in the reeds
Nicola Bulley, pictured with her partner Paul Ansell, disappeared on Jan. 27 while walking her dog. She was found dead 23 days later
An inquest into Nicola’s death will take place on Monday 26 June at County Hall in Preston.
Lancashire Police confirmed this week that the divers have returned to the River Wyre as part of the investigation into Nicola Bulley’s death.
“We can confirm that it is we who are carrying out work on behalf of HM Coroner,” a police spokesman told the Lancashire Post.
A spokesperson for HM Coroner said earlier this week: ‘The investigation will take time to ensure that the fullest possible picture of the facts surrounding the death of Mrs Bulley is presented to the inquest. This will help the family understand what happened.
“As part of this process, HM Senior Coroner has requested Lancashire Constabulary to provide information gathered during the search for Ms Bulley so that it can be considered part of the investigation.”
