Nicola Bulley‘s family faces “torture” as the process of identifying the body found in the River Wyre gets underway, a former Met Police detective inspector says.
Police found a body in their search for the missing mum-of-two on Sunday morning, more than three weeks after she disappeared while walking her beloved springer spaniel Willow.
Lancashire Police said a formal identification is yet to be carried out but the mortgage adviser’s family have been informed.
The body was found around a mile from where the 45-year-old was last seen walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school on January 27.
It is understood that formal identification could take some time.
Retired Scotland Yard detective inspector Hamish Brown told GB News: “The identification process isn’t pleasant for anyone.
“I’m afraid it’s just another line of unpleasant torture for the family, but something nevertheless that must be done.”
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It depended on the condition of the body as to whether it could be identified by sight, Mr Brown explained.
Clothing, personal belongings, jewellery and DNA could help in the identification process.
Mr Brown’s comments come after Lancashire Police said in a statement yesterday: “An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.
“No formal identification has yet been carried out, so we are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time. Procedures to identify the body are ongoing. We are currently treating the death as unexplained.
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“Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.”
On Sunday evening, Sky News correspondent Inzamam Rashid said that he had been in contact with Ms Bulley’s partner, Paul Ansell, via text.
He wrote in a message: “No words right now, just agony.”
A man and woman walking their dog discovered the body and called police, it is understood.
A photographer at the scene told the Mirror: “It all happened so fast. Police have sealed all the roads off. It’s fair to say a massive search is underway.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman described the developments as “heartbreaking and distressing”.
She tweeted: “These are heart-breaking and distressing developments. My thoughts remain with Nicola’s family at this extremely difficult time.”
The body was found on an unremarkable stretch of the river, just past a slight bend, a mile or so outside the village, close to where a tree had fallen on its side half in and half outside the water, with branches and undergrowth partially submerged.
Police had earlier erected a tent and cordoned off the lane while police divers were called in, but the road was reopened around three hours later once the body was recovered by officers.
The area attracted press interest and members of the public including one woman who told reporters she was a clairvoyant and had “picked up” an area of the river on Saturday night.
The police diving team could be seen conducting the search while a police drone and helicopter flew above.