22 October 2024 , 17:57
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Police searching for missing mum Victoria Taylor have found a body close to where she was last seen.
Ms Taylor, 34, disappeared from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on September 30.
Just over a week later police said there was a ‘significant possibility’ she had entered the River Derwent after recovering CCTV footage of her walking towards a play park near the water’s edge.
A number of her possessions were also found in that area.
Searches have been taking place on the river since Ms Taylor was reported missing on October 1, including the use of divers and specialist sonar equipment.
On Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox of North Yorkshire Police said a body had been recovered at 11.45am by underwater search teams, close to the area where Ms Taylor’s possessions were found.
Speaking at Fulford Police Station, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox told reporters the body was found by the police underwater search team at about 11.45am today in the River Derwent, ‘close to where Ms Taylor’s belongings were recovered’.
He said formal identification is yet to take place, but Ms Taylor’s family have been informed of this development, and ‘understandably, they are distressed by today’s news’.
Mr Fox told a press briefing: ‘The disappearance of Victoria has understandably had a wider impact on the communities of Norton and Malton.
‘Victoria’s family and those closest to her have understandably felt enormous amount of heartache since the day she was reported missing, and they’ve previously acknowledged just how grateful they are to the local community for the overwhelming level of support that they have had as a family.
‘Whilst today’s outcome is not what anybody would wish for, Victoria’s family have again asked me to express their thanks to all of those who’ve supported North Yorkshire Police and other emergency services in our efforts to locate Victoria.
Police teams searching along the River Derwent for missing woman Victoria Taylor (Picture: SWNS)
‘They’ve also asked me to ask for time and space for them as a family to come to terms with the information, the news that they’ve been provided with today. And our thoughts remain very much with them at this time.’
Ms Taylor left her home at 9am on Monday September 30, and was seen on CCTV at 11.35am at the BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton, where she purchased several items.
A further sighting was captured at 11.53am at Malton bus station on Railway Street.
Further CCTV footage showed Ms Taylor walking towards the play park on Riverside Walk at 12.30pm.
A poster appealing for information regarding missing woman Victoria Taylor outside the Derwent Arms public house in Malton (Picture: PA)
In a statement released last Tuesday to mark two weeks since Ms Taylor was reported missing, her sisters Emma and Heidi said: ‘There are no words for us to describe how we are feeling as it’s ever-changing.
‘We have to have some sort of normality for the children. As we know, Vixx is a mum but also an auntie and Halloween is one of her favourite seasons as she is the costume queen.’
In a statement released via North Yorkshire Police, the sisters said: ‘The local community is amazing, from putting up posters to the daily walks to search for Vixx. We would like to thank the special people, you know who you are.
‘The wider community on the Facebook page with over 10,000 people sharing Vixx’s information and sending support has given us comfort.’