Ex-cops share 8 clues in Nicola Bulley's disappearance - from fitbit to phone
Former cops have revealed eight key clues in Nicola Bulley's disappearance and share what they think happened to her.
The mortgage adviser, 45, disappeared on January 27 while walking her brown spaniel Willow along the River Wyre in the tight-knit village of St Michael's-on-Wyre in Lancashire.
Lancashire Police launched a massive search and were seen combing the river bank, utilising diving teams, search dogs, drones and boats to no avail.
Earlier this week, the search had expanded to Morecambe Bay and specialists were seen on a board searching under Shard Bridge - which is seven miles from where Nicola was last seen.
Police have said their "main working hypothesis" was that she fell in a river but a body has not yet been found. However, they insist they are keeping an open mind.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
Now Mark Williams-Thomas, a former police detective, and Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard veteran, have shared what they think police should be focusing on.
Nicola Bulley has been missing since January 27 (PA)The River Wyre
Mr Neville told the MaiOnline he supported the police's theory that Nicola may have fallen into the river.
However, he found it strange that diving experts were searching a specific area.
He said: She has been missing for over 14 days now - she could be four miles away."
Ths is part of the RIver Wyre (Lancs Live/Jude Tolson)He added: "They must do everything they can to stop a body getting to the sea where it will be lost."
Nicola's phone was found on the bench still connected to a work conference call.
The Bench
Mr Williams-Thomas, a cop who exposed Jimmy Savile, said he believed police should have treated the scene as if an abduction or murder had taken place.
Mr Neville said the bench should have been sealed off immediately because there could have been "something of forensic value there".
Nicola’s phone was found on a bench on the banks of the River Wyre (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The Dog
Mr Neville says brown spaniel Willow may be the solution to Nicola's disappearance.
Willow was found bone dry by a walker near the bench. She also didn't have her harness on at the time she was found.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Mr Neville said the dog could have been running around and "knocked her in the river".
Nicola Bulley hasn't been seen since January 27 (PA)The Fitbit
Nicola would use her Fitbit to track walks with Willow nearly every day.
The journeys would be shared on the fitness app Strava.
The Fitbit could have collected data, which may pinpoint where she is.
A police Search and Rescue team in Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire (PA)Some Fitbits are waterproof up to a depth of 50 metres, which means if she did fall into the river, it could still have been working until its power failed.
Mr Neville said the Fitbit could be useful as it will show her heartbeat and could tell if it had stopped or changed.
The Digital Footprint
Apart from physical searches of where someone was last seen, police will also be looking at someone's "digital footprint".
They will look at electronic devices, CCTV, and networks of cameras.
Mr Williams-Thomas and Mr Neville both say this is to help rule people and theories out quickly.
Other Paths
The theory that Nicola may have fallen into the river is currently favoured by police because of the CCTV or cameras covering major paths to the river.
Two of the three paths that lead to the riverbank are covered with technology, and if Nicola took her usual route she would have appeared on CCTV.
Furthermore, witnesses have said they saw her on the way to the riverbank.
Paul Ansell, the partner of Nicola Bulley, views the spot on the River Wyre with forensic expert Peter Faulding (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)Her leaving the riverbank wasn't seen by anyone and it hasn't been picked up on cameras.
However, that third route shouldn't be ruled out.
Mr Neville said: "You cannot rule possibilities like this out."
Third-Party Involvement
Police have insisted they do not believe there is any third-party involvement.
Mr Neville said that doesn't mean they aren't still looking at registered sex offenders.
He said they will look at "their movements" and any "similar cases" will be looked at again.
Is there something more to this?
Police have said they are still treating Nicola's disappearance like a missing person enquiry.
However, Mr Williams-Thomas said he would have escalated it after two days.
He said "clearly" something has happened and there is "no reason" for her to go missing, leaving her dog, children and partner.
He said: "This would now be a critical incident being dealt with as suspicious if it had been down to me.
"Within 48 hours I would have treated this in the same fashion as a murder or abduction."
Anyone with information which could assist our investigation should call Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log 0565 of January 30th. For immediate sightings please call 999.
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