The witness is a woman who was spotted pushing a stroller on January 27, when Ms. Bulley disappeared while walking her dog.
Police searching for missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley has issued an appeal for a “critical” witness who they believe was in the area the morning she vanished.
The witness is a woman who was observed pushing a stroller on the morning of Friday, January 27, when Ms. Bulley disappeared.
Officers think that Ms. Bulley slipped into the Wyre River while walking her dog.
However, her family and friends assert there is “absolutely no proof” to support the police’s position.
The woman was seen walking in St. Michael’s on Wyre at approximately 8:22 a.m.
Just about 20 minutes later, at 8:41 am, she is seen strolling again.
“It is suspected that the female in question traveled down the river route at these times. So detectives wish to talk with her and urge her to get in touch,” said a Lancashire Police spokesperson.
The force spokeswoman stated that it was essential to collect as much footage as possible from the region on that morning to “carefully examine every frame” and determine whether Nicola may be seen.
“We know from the film we are currently reviewing that this is a busy road, especially at that time of day,” they continued.
“Many people who were in the neighborhood at the time may not believe they can help, but we ask you not to make that decision and to come forward so we can collect as much information as possible to aid the investigation.”
Important 10-minute window
45-year-old Ms. Bulley was last seen walking her dog on a trail along the River Wyre.
The police are focusing their inquiry on a vital 10-minute window between 9:10 and 9:20 a.m. During which the mortgage advisor’s movements are unaccounted for.
A timeline compiled by the force revealed that she joined a Microsoft Teams conference call for work at 9:01 a.m.
A witness who knows Ms. Bulley reported seeing her on the upper field walking Willow off-leash nine minutes later.
This is the final known sighting of her.
The police suspect that her phone was left on a riverside seat at about 9:20 a.m.
The business conference call finished at 9.30 a.m. But she remained connected until another dog walker discovered her phone three minutes later.
We shall “never give up hope.”
Paul Ansell, Ms. Bulley’s partner, pledged to “never lose hope” on Friday, a week after she “disappeared into thin air.”
He stated that he was focused on helping their six- and nine-year-old girls. But added, “I don’t know how I am dealing.
“I do not wish to consider that.”
Friends and family told that it was “too soon” to offer condolences and that they are not prepared to accept the police’s assumption that Ms. Bulley fell into the river.
They have now established a community search center at the village tennis club, where individuals are invited to pick up a map of the local region and offer assistance.
In addition to sniffer dogs, drones, and police helicopters, specialists and divers from HM Coastguard, mountain rescue. And Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have been deployed to assist in the search.
Lancashire Police stated that a team of investigators has been analyzing telephone communications, house-to-house inquiries, CCTV, dashcam footage, and other digital inquiries.
It is a very, very unusual situation.
Peter Faulding, a forensics search and rescue expert, told he is “mystified” by the “odd” circumstances surrounding Ms. Bulley’s disappearance.
Mr. Faulding, who has worked on hundreds of cases, stated that the tidal condition of the River Wye posed challenges for authorities throughout the search effort.
But he said, “I mean, the phone is found on a bench. Ordinarily, if someone tripped, their phone would be in their hand.
“You know, the dog being dry; chasing dogs is the reason why so many people drown. They chase their dogs by leaping.
“However, the dog was found dry, indicating that it did not enter the river. This leads me to believe that this situation is extremely peculiar.”
