Nicola Bulley's mysterious disappearance - timeline as search hits Day 10

Detectives in Lancashire have now been searching for missing dog walker Nicola Bulley for 10 days now.
While police on Friday revealed they were working on the theory the 45-year-old mum had fallen into the river, her family urged the public this was only one possible scenario.
Nicola's sister Louise Cunningham said there was "no evidence" she had entered the River Wyre, where she was last seen walking her dog on the morning of Friday, January 27.
In a Facebook post, Ms Cunningham, urged people to "keep an open mind" as there is "no evidence whatsoever" that the dog walker fell in the river.
She said: "Off the back of the latest Police media update, please can I add there is no evidence whatsoever that she has gone into the river, it's just a theory."

As the search enters its ninth day and concerns for Nicola mount, here is a day-by-day timeline of events starting from the day of her disappearance.

Friday, January 27
8.50am - The 45-year-old drops her daughters, aged six and nine, off at school in the morning before walking her dog, Willow, in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.
Lancashire Police said the mortgage adviser, from nearby Inskip, walked along a path beside the River Wyre just before 9am.
She is seen by a dog walker who knows her at around 8.50am, and their pets interact briefly before they part ways, according to the force.
At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sends an email to her boss, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am.
9.10am - A second witness reports seeing Nicola on a bench at 9.10am, which is the last reported sighting.

9.30am - The Teams call ends, but Nicola's account remains connected. Approximately five minutes later, another dog walker finds her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two.
10.50am - Ms Bulley's family and the school attended by her children are told about her disappearance. Police launch an investigation into Ms Bulley's whereabouts on the same day and appeal for witnesses to contact them.
Saturday, January 28
Police deploy drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation.
They're joined by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as a local mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team.


Sunday, January 29
Local residents hold a meeting at the village hall to organise a search for Ms Bulley at 10.30am on Sunday, as about 100 people join the search.
Police warn volunteers to be cautious, describing the river and its banks as "extremely dangerous" and saying that activity in these areas pose "a genuine risk to the public".
Monday, January 30
Superintendent Sally Riley said her colleagues were "keeping a really open mind about what could have happened", and that they're not treating Ms Bulley's disappearance as suspicious.


Tuesday, January 31
Police speak to a potential witness, a man who had been walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre at the time of Ms Bulley's disappearance.
Her family releases a statement saying they were "overwhelmed by the support" in their community, and that her daughters were "desperate to have their mummy back home safe".

Wednesday, February 1
Ms Bulley's parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, tell The Mirror of the "horror" they faced over the possibility of never seeing her again.
Her father said: "We just dread to think we will never see her again, if the worst came to the worst and she was never found, how will we deal with that for the rest of our lives."
Thursday, February 2
Police speak with a second witness who they had identified with the help of the public using CCTV, but they said they don't have any further information which could help.
Officers from the North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit comb the area close to where Ms Bulley's mobile phone was found, while police divers scour the River Wyre.
Meanwhile, Ms Bulley's family appeals to the public for help tracing her.
Speaking with Sky News, her sister Louise said: "There has got to be somebody who knows something and all we are asking is, no matter how small or big, if there is anything you remember that doesn't seem right, then please reach out to the police. Get in touch and get my sister back."
Ms Bulley's father said his family hoped their interview would "spark a light" that would lead to her being found.

Friday, February 3
Police revealed it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley may have fallen into the River Wyre.
Supt Riley warned the public against speculation, saying it's "possible" that an "issue" with Ms Bulley's dog may have led her to the water's edge, such as dropping a ball in the water.
She urged the public to look out for items of clothing Ms Bulley was last seen wearing, and gives an extensive list.
Ms Bulley's friends now join the family in their heartfelt appeals via television interviews, including Emma White, who told the BBC that Ms Bulley's daughters are continually asking where she was.
Her husband Paul speaks publicly for the first time, telling Sky she just "vanished into thin air", adding that "every single scenario seems to come to a brick wall".

Saturday, February 4
Ms Bulley's friend, Emma White, also casts doubt on the police theory that she fell into a river, telling Sky News it was based on "limited information".
She said: "When we are talking about a life we can't base it on a hypothesis, surely we need this factual evidence.
"That's what the family and all of us are holding on to, that we are sadly no further on than last Friday."

In the afternoon police released an image of a woman pushing a pram in the area, saying they wanted to speak to her to find out if she'd seen anything.
Hours later they released an updated statement saying she had come forward - and stressed she was being treated as a witness.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus














