Everything we know about the missing mum's mysterious disappearance
Missing mum Gaynor Lord vanished in a busy city centre six days ago after she left work.
A major search effort yesterday yielded some of Gaynor's belongings, including clothing, jewellery and a mobile phone, in a park on the same day she disappeared.
But the 55-year-old married mum remains missing and police are now particularly interested in what happened in the mystery 34 minutes, during which Gaynor appeared to enter and exit Norwich Cathedral on Friday. The cathedral is only around one mile from Wensum Park, where the belongings were found later that day. An eyewitness said she saw a woman matching Gaynor's description in Wensum Park at about 4pm on Friday. Below is a rundown of the facts and the key questions that still need answering.
Gaynor is described as white, 5 ft 6 tall, and was wearing a white shirt and yellow tank top with a large olive-coloured coat over the top and a scarf. She has blonde shoulder length hair in a bob.
CCTV shows the married mum of three leave the grounds of Norwich Cathedral at around 3.17pm (PA)Gaynor's last known movements
Norfolk Police know Gaynor, who works at a department store, was last seen on London Street in Norwich city centre, heading towards the cathedral at around 2.35pm on Friday. However, officers are unclear what happened in the 34 minutes in which she appeared to enter and exit the cathedral.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
But the eyewitness, Rosie Richards, said she saw a woman matching Gaynor's description - white, 5ft 6in tall and with blonde, shoulder-length hair - in Wensum Park at around 4pm on Friday. The belongings, including the clothing and jewellery, were found by a member of the public in the park on Friday evening, by which time Gaynors family had reported the mother missing.
No further sightings have been reported to Norfolk Constabulary since Ms Richards believed she saw the woman. Police have since centred their search in and around Wensum Park, which is in Norwich city centre.
The 55-year-old woman was last seen on Friday afternoon near Wensum Park (PA)
Detectives have scoured the area with drones this week (Eastern Daily Press / SWNS)How Gaynor made the journey from work to the park
Police understand Gaynor made the journey from the department store at which she works to the park on foot. CCTV supports this, and has been released as part of the appeal. In it, the mum of three smiles as she leaves work at Jarrold department store, and other clips track Gaynor as she walks along streets to toward the cathedral.
But it is thought she wasn't due to end her shift until 4pm, by which time the mum was seen on CCTV to walk along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street and finally up St Augustines Street - the last confirmed sighting. This is near Wensum Park, which is on the banks of River Wensum.
The park has been closed for days while detectives search for the missing person (Eastern Daily Press / SWNS)More belongings are found - but no sign of Gaynor
More of Gaynor's belongings, including jewellery, were found in Wensum Park on Sunday, two days after she was reported missing. It led to the closure of the park as officers continued their search. The park remained closed on Wednesday.
Following the latest discovery of the belongings, police understand Gaynor entered the adjacent River Wensum partially unclothed. Superintendent Wes Hornigold, of Norfolk Constabulary, said that there was "no evidence" that she had come to harm but added: "Police believe the most likely scenario is that Gaynor has entered the water."
Searches have been carried out in the River Wensum with assistance from the constabulary’s Marine Unit, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the Coastguard, and are set to continue.
What support has Norfolk Police received
Detectives searching for Gaynor have requested help from the cops who led the Nicola Bulley case. Norwich Supt Wes Hornigold told The Sun Ms Lord's disappearance had chilling echoes of the hunt for Ms Bulley, who also vanished next to a river in January. He said his force was “linking in with” Lancashire detectives to “understand any of the lessons learned” from the search for mum-of-two Ms Bulley, 45.
He said: "We will absolutely, and have been, linking in with Lancashire Constabulary to understand any of the lessons learned from that inquiry. We’ve already had meetings with the National Crime Agency in terms of understanding any specific skills and knowledge in respect to water searching.
"We’re cognisant of the recent College of Policing report into the Lancashire inquiry, so we’re leaving no stone unturned and making sure we’re doing everything within our power to find Gaynor as quickly as possible. This is a particularly stressful time for her family and specialist officers continue to provide support. Gaynor is described as white, 5ft 6in, and has a blonde shoulder-length bob."
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Have any witnesses come foward?
Rosie Richards alleges she spotted the 55-year-old mother put her coat on the ground of at Wensum Park in Norwich and perform a yoga pose on Friday afternoon despite it getting dark.
She's spoken to Norfolk Constabulary which has centred its major search operation in the park and the river running through it. In the days since Mrs Lord vanished, officers have closed Wensum Park, used a drone and sonar equipment to scour the area and carried out underwater searches.
Ms Richards said today: "To me she seemed quite calm. She was sort of putting her coat down on the floor and sort of performing a yoga pose. It just seemed a bit off at this time because obviously it was starting to get dark."
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the woman, who lives in Norwich, added: "It's really upsetting. I'm thinking of her friends and family because she is a similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through now."
What has Norfolk Police said
Norwich Policing Commander, Superintendent Wes Hornigold, said yesterday: “Today we are releasing the footage of Gaynor’s last known steps on Friday afternoon before she went missing. We hope this will help to jog the memory of anyone who may have seen her in the city that afternoon or who may have footage of her journey.
“We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm. It’s not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.
“We are continuing our extensive searches but would appeal to the public to come forward with any information which may help to find Gaynor. In the footage you can clearly see what she was wearing when she went missing.
“This is a particularly stressful time for her family and specialist officers continue to provide support.”
Timeline of disappearance
2.44pm – Gaynor is working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement at Jarrold department store – her clothing is clearly visible
2.45-2.46pm – She leaves the store via the loading bay on Bedford Street
2.47pm – Walks onto London Street past the Cosy Club
2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street and walks toward the Cathedral
3.22pm – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the cathedral entrance – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts her coat on
3.23pm – She is seen to walk away from the cathedral on Queens Street – here you can see a clear image of the coat she was wearing
3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street
3.53pm – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
4.01pm – Gaynor walks up St Augustines Street – her final movements captured in CCTV before going missing
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