24 February 2023 , 21:48
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An angry council leader claims profiteering ghouls are already selling books on the hunt for Nicola Bulley just days after her body was found.
It comes as friends of the tragic mum-of-two praised the pubic with nearly £30,000 already raised for her tormented family.
The 45-year-old vanished on January 27 in St Michael's-on-Wyre, Lancashire, after logging onto a work call and leaving her phone on a bench near her dog Willow.
Her body was finally found last Sunday among reeds in the River Wyre but within days, books were being published.
Andy Lawson - a heartbroken work colleague of Nicola's partner of 12 years Paul Ansell, 44 - launched a GoFundMe page hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the couple's daughters, aged six and nine.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
As nearly £30,000 is raised for Nicola Bulley's family, a local councillor claims books have been written (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)It soon they raised that target to £25,000 and now the fund has soared to over £29,000 due to an outpouring of affection and sympathy for the tragic mortgage adviser's grief-stricken family.
But despite the donation joy, the family's suffering continues as the leader of the tragic mum's local council blasted publishers' opportunism after spotting books written on the search and her death are already being advertised online.
Leader of Wyre Council, Cllr Michael Vincent, branded the publishing profiteering as "nothing short of disgusting", saying whoever wrote the books were "capitalising on her death".
It's further anguish for family as Paul Ansell and his daughters come to terms with the news (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)Following her tragic death, three books have been published on Amazon Kindle claiming to tell the ‘untold truth’ about what happened to Nicola.
One book still being advertised - at online book store Barnes & Noble - is titled 'Nicola Bulley: The Untold Truth Behind Her Death', by Mark J. Donald.
Cllr Vincent said: "This is nothing short of disgusting, that someone is seeking to capitalise on her sad death and the searches that were carried out, in an attempt to make money from it all.
"I would call on every right minded person not to enable this by downloading any of them and validating this sort of behaviour.
Posters appealing for information on the missing mum-of-two are taken down (James Maloney/Lancs Live)"Whatever people do, please do not buy it, don’t download it."
But with almost £30,000 pledge, the public have been praised for their support of the family.
Andy and the other organisers wrote: "We are so grateful for all of the support the fundraiser has received thus far. Nikki was the most amazing person and has clearly impacted so many people.
Devastated parents promise to never stop looking for mum-of-two who vanished
"We are increasing the goal so that we can help the girls and Paul as much as possible. Thank you all again."
A nationwide show of unity came during the search (PA)The police's handling of the disappearance of Nicola is to be the subject of an independent review, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner said earlier this week.
Andrew Snowden has commissioned the College of Policing to review the case including the force's release of personal information about Ms Bulley.
Lancashire Police had "done their utmost" but "the narrative has been lost at times", he said. The force said it welcomed the review and was "keen to take the opportunity to learn".
Police were criticised for revealing private health details, such as that she had been struggling with the menopause and alcohol issues.
The review will focus on the investigation and search, communication and public engagement, and the releasing of personal information.
Nicola Bulley was missing for more than three weeks before she was found (Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)It comes after the police watchdog confirmed it has launched an investigation into a police visit to Ms Bulley's home weeks before her disappearance.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it was investigating a visit to Ms Bulley's home on 10 January when officers were called to a "concern for welfare report" and health professionals also attended.
Lancashire Police said no arrests were made.
The full inquest into Ms Bulley’s death is likely to take place in June, when a coroner will seek to determine how she died.
An inquest opening at Preston Coroner’s Court on Wednesday this week was told maxillofacial surgeon Andrew Ian Edwards had examined her dental records, which had been obtained by police from her dental surgery.
Senior coroner Dr James Adeley said remaining evidence gathered by police and the post-mortem examination required "further evaluation."
The GoFundMe site has seen over 1,400 donations, with the highest donation coming in at £1,000.
Police divers scoured the river (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The original post on the page reads: "As you can imagine, this is a situation that no one wishes to find themselves in, and we want to help the family through this awful time.
"The hope is that the funds raised will give the family one less worry, and will help Paul and their little girls now and into the future.
"The beautiful Nicola Bulley was the most amazing person you could have ever met, a heart made of gold, that shined through in everything she did.
"Her kindness knew no bounds and her legacy will live on through her beautiful little girls and Paul."
To donate, visit the family's fundraising page here.