Police give major update after body found in hunt for missing mum-of-three

15 December 2023 , 14:36

1069     0

Police give major update after body found in hunt for missing mum-of-three

A body found in a river in Norfolk during the search for missing mum-of-three Gaynor Lord is a woman's police have said, but officers have not yet been able to formally confirm her identity.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference this afternoon officers from Norfolk Police said they believe the woman entered the water after going missing seven days ago, and have no reason to believe Gaynor met anyone else.

The force stressed officers are still treating the case as a missing person enquiry at this time. Chief superintendent Dave Buckley said there is no evidence of third party involvement.

Dive teams found a body in the river (Getty Images)

Mr Buckley said: “We remain open-minded to the circumstances of Gaynor’s disappearance, and we’ll continue to pursue all lines of inquiry to ascertain why she went missing. I’m keen to say this remains a missing person inquiry at this stage.

“I am also satisfied at the moment, based on the evidence that we have, that Gaynor did not meet anyone on the way to the park, and we now have a better understanding of her movements through the city centre.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'

"I would reiterate at this stage that there is no evidence of third party involvement. Nothing in our inquiries have changed this position.” He added that specialist Family Liaison Officers were supporting Gaynor Lord’s family, and a post-mortem examination would need to be completed on the body to establish how she died.

Gaynor went missing last Friday (PA Media)

This morning, a police dive team assisting in the search for the 55 year old was seen pulling a large object in a black bag from the River Wensum in Norwich. Police later confirmed a body had been found. Specialist dive teams had been carrying out checks at a specific part of the river, with an orange buoy placed on the spot earlier that morning.

In a short statement earlier today, the force previously said: “Police searching for missing Norwich woman Gaynor Lord can confirm a body has been found in the River Wensum.

Gaynor Lord was on CCTV leaving work (PA Media)

"The body was found in the river by underwater search teams this morning and has now been recovered from the water. While the body hasn’t formally been identified, Gaynor’s family have been informed. They continue to be supported by specially trained officers.”

Some of Ms Lord's belongings, including clothing, jewellery and a mobile phone, had been found in the park on the same day she disappeared last Friday. Wensum Park is around 1.5 miles away from her workplace at Jarrold department store and her coat was discovered in the river, which runs through the park.

Kelly-Ann Mills