Page 24 | Missing Woman Nicola Bulley 4

ofwarren · 2023-02-08T10:28:02+00:00

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/nicola-bulley-day-13-latest-updates-as-search-for-missing-mum-continues-4017066 Lancashire Evening Post has just posted this update.

confounded234 · 08/02/2023 16:45

User963 · 08/02/2023 16:42

I assume they’ve checked all the cctv right up to the time that a) she was reported missing and b) the police arrived?

Who knows? They might not be looking after 9.30 because in their heads she was in the water then so why look? My confidence is so low in this investigation now that nothing would surprise me. I still cannot fathom why they have not released any footage of Nicola on her walk. have they literally got nothing or they just don't think it's important? Baffling, as PG has been saying

PassTheLemonDrizzle · 08/02/2023 16:45

This incident has made me think of something which happened to me a few years back. I was out with my dog, walking along looking at my phone. I heard him yelp and saw him lift his paw off the ground. I put my phone and his lead onto the floor and bent down to see what was wrong. At that exact moment, he jumped up, our heads collided and I was almost knocked out. Thank goodness I was in a field and not somewhere more dangerous.

lifeturnsonadime · 08/02/2023 16:45

pigsinoodies · 08/02/2023 16:43

Gate again

Unless there are gaps to the side or underneath a dog couldn't get through that.

Mirabai · 08/02/2023 16:46

Goldpaw · 08/02/2023 16:41

Yes I know they have. There's a big difference between process being carried out satisfactorily and being carried out rigourously right from the start with a fully open mind and no assumptions being made.

Is this a criminal investigation? No, we believe she fell in the river by the bench.
Have you looked into CCTV? Yes
Have you searched the river? Yes
Have you contacted the drivers on Blackpool Lane? Yes
Are you looking at dashcam footage? Yes

Due process completed satisfactorily.

Have you searched upstream of the bench because the bench may be a red herring and if she fell in it may have been elsewhere? No. (It was SGI who did that later).

Have you searched the house opposite and the outbuildings? No because this isn't a criminal investigation and the owner wanted us to get a search warrant.

Etc. Big difference between doing things by the book correctly, and being a bit more creative in your thinking.

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A review from the NCA is not the same as a case review from a different force when the current force has hit a brick wall.

No-one is suggesting they haven’t followed correct procedures. They may simply be barking up the wrong tree.

FlyRobinFly · 08/02/2023 16:47

lifeturnsonadime · 08/02/2023 16:39

@FlyRobinFly

I don't think it would be a dognapping gone wrong. They wouldn't have left the dog.

If they’ve killed Nicola accidentally in the altercation they potentially would panic though and leave the dog, tying it up to stop it following

Delatron · 08/02/2023 16:47

Activelyannoyed · 08/02/2023 16:23

I am agreeing with the dive team, she’s not in the water and never has been. In fact looking at that shallow bank, 12 inches of water, distance to the deep part. Looking At how calm it was at that point, amd trying to force myself to believe she suddenly fell in, drowned, then was carried away so fast from that location, no one saw her, that the police divers that afternoon couldn’t find her and nor could the helicopter with thermal imaging, no one can find her since, and the dog stayed put, beggars belief and is surely the most unlikely option.

It simply defies all logic.

which means the items were left there on purpose. Riley , the superintendent has contradicted herself on the dog. She said the dog was found some way away and also said it was where the phone was. It can’t be both. So she’s trying to misdirect.

I think the dog was somewhere else. Further away, And where that dog was is where Nicola went. And the police know. And are putting attention on the river whilst they do something else.

I agree. I think there’s suck a lack of clarity about where the dog was (and the phone) that something else is going on on the background. Not a criminal investigation but they are not giving much away and keep insisting they are focusing on the river.

To rule out a criminal investigation so early on they must have more info. ‘Probably fell in the river’ isn’t good enough.

RubyPip · 08/02/2023 16:47

Mirabai · 08/02/2023 16:43

Her Fitbit had not synched since the previous Tuesday before her disappearance.

If it definitely showed she as in the river I don’t think PF would have said she wasn’t in there.

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But if PF isn't privy to any further information then we have, perhaps he hasn't been told?

I'm thinking there simply must be concrete evidence that Nicola was in the river, at some point, otherwise how can the police possibly confidently not pursue criminal involvement?

My first thoughts would be either accidental drowning, or a third party.

I thought I sounded like all the nearby houses have NOT been searched, only the houses that gave permission. Surely its not harmful to obtain warrants etc WHILE the river is searched?

Open minded, it doesn't seem so.

ilovebrie8 · 08/02/2023 16:48

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 08/02/2023 16:24

And yet Superintendent Sally Riley says they have searched nearby derelict and empty properties. So either Tilly Anne is lying, Sally Riley is lying or the police haven’t informed the family that they have searched buildings. Why wouldn’t they keep the family fully informed (Sally Riley has already made it clear Peter Faulding doesn’t have all of the facts because they haven’t told him everything). Why on Earth wouldn’t everyone be privy to all of the facts when this isn’t, as far as the police are concerned, a criminal case and is a missing person case? Surely, the more people who know all of the facts the better in a missing person case with no suspicious circumstances as far as the police are concerned? Surely you only withhold information from friends, family, the public when you suspect foul play? Doesn’t make any sense.

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Where is Tilly Anne's update? I can't see/missed it...can you post it please?

Goldpaw · 08/02/2023 16:49

Cassie4 · 08/02/2023 16:27

Finally! A sensible conversation worth having - something based on fact. I thought the same thing!

Didn't Peter say it was tidal further upstream though?

Either way, those two statements are in direct conflict with each other. So either Peter F isn't as much of an expert as thought or Sally R is misinformed by other experts around her? Both of those things feel hard to believe. I can't imagine with the attention all focused on her Sally R wouldn't have attended that press conference other than 100% prepared. And I believe Peter F is an expert. I also believe the Police divers will be experts and wouldn't say to Sally R- oh yes very strong currents - if there clearly wasn't when they've been swimming around in it for days.

Makes no sense. Are there strong currents or not? Because it makes a big difference.

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SI Riley in the presser didn't get the name of the road correct, so her attention to detail is lacking. Yes, I appreciate there may be reasons why she's not functioning on all cylinders and she looks like she's been awake for the full fortnight, but at a presser you need to get the facts right!

The police also said Nicola was wearing a full length coat when she wasn't.

So based on her having form for saying things that are incorrect I'm going with other people being correct.

MyOpinion1978 · 08/02/2023 16:49

madeyemoody · 08/02/2023 16:06

@ThighMistress I have wondered this since last Friday! Such a massive time for the dog to be left alone for a start! And for an area that has 700 cars drive past it had no one else walk through that area??

I think it's more likely no one has come forward because it will expose them for walking past a dog tied up with string and did nothing to help.

That's my personal opinion. Given the time of day and how busy it was around the village. Someone has walked past but won't put themselves. You can imagine how that would go down with Joe Public right now.

The village itself itself is little more than rows of houses on either side of the A586, with a church and one pub. It doesn’t even have a shop. The population is only about 600. Any busyness is from the A586 that goes to Blackpool, not the village itself. I shouldn’t think hordes of people would be walking by the river at 9am, but hundreds of cars will go through on the way to Preston/Garstang/Blackpool. I’ve driven through hundreds of times and always thought it looks lovely, but there’s absolutely nothing there.

dawngreen · 08/02/2023 16:50

Again not a full picture of the fence beside the kissing gate! If looking at her phone listening to the works meeting. She probably lost track of where her dog was so thought he had entered the water.

keepcalm11 · 08/02/2023 16:52

Dog lead?
If the harness was found but not on the dog , and the dog was tied to the bench with string, Nicola must have had the lead on her person , in a pocket or something.

If that is the case and she fell in the river the lead or some article of clothing, the hat or something, would surely have surfaced even if her body sunk to the bottom.

AlpacaBag · 08/02/2023 16:52

lifeturnsonadime · 08/02/2023 16:45

Unless there are gaps to the side or underneath a dog couldn't get through that.

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No but a lot of dogs could jump it fairly easily.

Original poster

ofwarren · 08/02/2023 16:53

keepcalm11 · 08/02/2023 16:52

Dog lead?
If the harness was found but not on the dog , and the dog was tied to the bench with string, Nicola must have had the lead on her person , in a pocket or something.

If that is the case and she fell in the river the lead or some article of clothing, the hat or something, would surely have surfaced even if her body sunk to the bottom.

Tilly Ann her friend says the lead was there, with the harness

OP posts:

Prinnny · 08/02/2023 16:54

I just find this case so haunting! I walk a similar route, secluded river woods, and it’s made me feel on edge! I don’t think she’s in the water, there’s something about the gate and the dog being near it that makes me feel uneasy.

Plitvice · 08/02/2023 16:55

The dog may have had nothing to do with it at all. I mean, she could have suddenly needed a wee and being far away from home and unable to wait, have put her phone on the bench to keep it safe and tried to find a slightly hidden spot by the river but fallen in accidentally.

Monzeitia · 08/02/2023 16:55

Same here, I walk my dog very early and in winter it can be dark for the first half an hour, before I go to work, on Monday I was walking in this big park I have just few minutes from my place, a lady runner suddenly got very close to me taking me by surprise and I actually scream, my dog who was off the lead did a runner but come back very wary after few minutes, this case has made me feel very vulnerable

romatheroamer · 08/02/2023 16:57

The expert (I think it was Peter) said in a TV interview the other day that sthg which falls into the river, he mentioned sheep, doesn't wash all the way to the coast but with the ebb and flow will return to the original spot....why he was sceptical about the river theory.

Mooserp · 08/02/2023 16:58

pigsinoodies · 08/02/2023 16:43

Gate again

where did you get this photo from? I thought it was the wooden stile they were referring to?

Mirabai · 08/02/2023 16:58

RubyPip · 08/02/2023 16:47

But if PF isn't privy to any further information then we have, perhaps he hasn't been told?

I'm thinking there simply must be concrete evidence that Nicola was in the river, at some point, otherwise how can the police possibly confidently not pursue criminal involvement?

My first thoughts would be either accidental drowning, or a third party.

I thought I sounded like all the nearby houses have NOT been searched, only the houses that gave permission. Surely its not harmful to obtain warrants etc WHILE the river is searched?

Open minded, it doesn't seem so.

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The idea seems to be that they must have hard evidence or they wouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket but - there was no concrete evidence Claudia Lawrence was a MP, there was no concrete evidence that Colin Stagg killed Rachel Nickell, that Barry George killed Jill Dando - the police were wrong on all of those.

What concrete evidence could there be?

SlightlyJaded · 08/02/2023 16:59

At what point do you say "She doesn't appear to be in the river, so actually we are going to search EVERY outbuilding, every caravan and every inch of Rowanwater?"

I would say that moment has passed, but according to the Tilly Ann facebook updates, they still haven't searched all the derelict outbuildings, never mind every caravan. And I don't understand why not.

confounded234 · 08/02/2023 17:00

Mirabai · 08/02/2023 16:58

The idea seems to be that they must have hard evidence or they wouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket but - there was no concrete evidence Claudia Lawrence was a MP, there was no concrete evidence that Colin Stagg killed Rachel Nickell, that Barry George killed Jill Dando - the police were wrong on all of those.

What concrete evidence could there be?

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You can add Colin Jefferies to that list. I burst out laughing when they said he'd been arrested for murder. A less likely murderer was hard to imagine.

RiktheButler · 08/02/2023 17:00

Goldpaw · 08/02/2023 16:49

SI Riley in the presser didn't get the name of the road correct, so her attention to detail is lacking. Yes, I appreciate there may be reasons why she's not functioning on all cylinders and she looks like she's been awake for the full fortnight, but at a presser you need to get the facts right!

The police also said Nicola was wearing a full length coat when she wasn't.

So based on her having form for saying things that are incorrect I'm going with other people being correct.

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So many comments about the coat - has it occurred to any of you that the description given TO the police was wrong?

Mirabai · 08/02/2023 17:01

RiktheButler · 08/02/2023 17:00

So many comments about the coat - has it occurred to any of you that the description given TO the police was wrong?

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There’s CCTV footage of her in it

Goldpaw · 08/02/2023 17:01

RiktheButler · 08/02/2023 17:00

So many comments about the coat - has it occurred to any of you that the description given TO the police was wrong?

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They had the CCTV from the school showing Nicola wearing it!