Police are franticly trying to work out what happened to Nicola Bulley during the 10-minute window in which she vanished without a trace.
The 45-year-old mum-of-two was walking her dog when she went missing on Friday, January 27, near the River Wyre in Lancashire.
She had dropped her children off at school that morning before taking the family pup, Willow, on a walk.
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Ms Bulley, whose phone was found at the scene of her disappearance and logged into a work conference, is now believed to have approached the river.
Superintendent Riley, who said police are “as sure as can be” that the mum-of-two did not leave the area, said the 45-year-old “may have fallen in” the river while walking the dog.
(Image: PA)
Another possibility is that Nicola was abducted. Local man Ernest asked the police about this, according to the Mirror.
He said: “I asked the Sergeant from Fleetwood a few days ago, ‘is there any chance of her being taken’ and she said ‘I don’t think that’s the case’.
“I said ‘how can you know that?’, it’s such an isolated area, the only way that has happened is if it was someone who knew her.”
(Image: PA)
A more sobering theory is that she was murdered.
Former Detective Superintendent Julie Mackay has gone on record as saying police would have examined the entire scene – but police have not ruled out that a third party was involved.
“I am pretty sure they would have examined that bench (where her phone was found) or given consideration to that bench,” she said.
(Image: PA)
“They would look to see if there were any marks that could have assisted like drag marks or slip marks.
“They would be looking for any items such as her mobile phone and the dog harness – it is all relevant? And then they would look at the broader scene.”
Another potential theory is that she took her own life – but evidence suggests this is not what happened, especially as she had arranged a play date for one of her children via a message on her phone just a few minutes prior.
A family member has confirmed her “mind was great” and that there was no reason to think this was a possible reason for the disappearance.
(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Superintendent Riley added: “Several exits of the riverside area have CCTV covering them or exits are locked and therefore couldn’t have been passed through by Nicola.
“There’s only a very small area onto Garstang Lane toward the A5/A6 which is not covered by CCTV and that’s why we’re appealing today for dashcam footage or for people who may have been walking on Garstang Lane or driving in the area to come forward if they can.”
The search is ongoing.
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