UK UK - Claudia Lawrence, 35, York University, 18 March 2009 - Chef - #1

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Just seen on tv that Police eill be searching the alleyway behind Claudias house in the hope of unearthing "fresh clues". What are they hoping to find so long after her disappearance?? I hope it was searched initially

Thanks for the update here is an article about the search.

"Police investigating the disappearance of chef Claudia Lawrence six years ago will today carry out another search near her home after receiving a new lead.

The operation will focus on the alley at the back of her house in York as the police chief in charge of the inquiry predicted more arrests ‘in the coming weeks and months’.

Nobody has seen or heard from Miss Lawrence since she returned from work on March 18, 2009. Police believe her disappearance is linked to her private life.

The university chef would have celebrated her 41st birthday on Friday.

Specialist search officers and police dogs will be involved in the search and officers will make further house-to-house inquiries as well as trace former residents as they probe the potentially significant information."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-disappeared-without-trace.html#ixzz3Sk6Qf4Zs
 
Have they ever absolutely torn that house and garden apart?

If they haven't then she may really never have left that house and might still be there.

Don't assume that the lack of smell etc renders this impossible.
 
I may be wrong so don't quote me but didnt police say that they had definitive proof that she left the house that day and at least made it part way to work.. if thats the case what relevance would the alleyway have?
 
I may be wrong so don't quote me but didnt police say that they had definitive proof that she left the house that day and at least made it part way to work.. if thats the case what relevance would the alleyway have?

This may have been based on a witness account that has since fallen apart, on the missing chef's whites, or they may have evidence that she might have returned home...

The police seem to be keeping something to themselves.....

Unless that house has been fully torn apart, then personally I think there is a chance she might be there somewhere.
 
I thought they had video evidence but like I say I may be wrong - need to refresh myself with the facts
 
Today is, or more likely would have been, Claudia's 41st birthday.

Police are searching premises very close to Claudia's home. Her mother is shocked tehy never checked that area before:

The news has left Claudia’s mum, Joan, 71, “horrified” and dismayed.

She said it “beggars belief” police did not search the scrubland and old mechanic’s garage immediately after her daughter went missing six years ago.

“I’m absolutely appalled. The original team made so many mistakes. And this is yet another one,”she told the Daily Mirror.

“They could have missed vital clues that might have led to knowing what happened to Claudia, and prevented the years of heartache we have had to suffer.”

The mechanics, who are on site most days, claim only one officer came to their site after Claudia went missing to ask if he could look in a car boot on the grounds.

Another officer with a sniffer dog, they said, walked halfway down their lane but then turned around.

Joan says she feels let down by the first team who she felt dismissed any of her suggestions.

“But I’m Claudia’s Mum - there is nobody in the world that would want my daughter found more than me.

“So to be dismissed by the police team was absolutely heartbreaking and disgusting.”

In complete contrast, Joan has utter respect for the new police boss leading the search for her daughter.

She said: “He has always listened to me and taken my thoughts very seriously. I’m so pleased he is now heading the search for my daughter.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/claudia-lawrence-mum-shocked-police-5239778
 
I have been following this case closely from the outset so I was really interested in the police activity last week as it seems to support one of my theories about her disappearance.

CCTV – The police stated early on that she was not picked up on any CCTV on the morning of her disappearance. She was last captured on CCTV when posting a letter at the Melrosegate post office whilst walking home the previous afternoon (see here). To the north and west of her house is the Limes Court student accommodation site, which seems to be well served with CCTV, but sadly there is very little coverage to the south which was her normal route to the University. All we know for certain is she did not reach the post office on foot that morning (which is 2/3 the way to the University). Neither of the two potential witness sightings were ever confirmed as being her.

The Melrosegate bridge sighting (here) – although the timing and the description of the woman seem to match there is lot of confusion over which day this occurred. A number of sources (including the original Crimewatch web site and Neil Root’s book on the case) put this on the previous day (18th March) which seems to make it irrelevant. Other sources now put this on the 19th. Also the man (the ‘left handed smoker’) was on foot so if he had attacked her how did he remove the body from the scene? Surely he would not have risked returning with vehicle later on?

Her house has been extensively searched by both investigation teams – the second time (Oct. 2013) they were in there for six weeks, so I think it’s unlikely they would miss a body hidden in such a small property. Also if she was killed there I doubt the killer would have wanted to spend a long time hiding the body as they would not know when she would be missed, and when someone would turn up at the house.

I am puzzled by the search of the alleyway as it is very unlikely to lead anywhere, but the re-interviewing of the residents / former residents seems to be a move in the right direction IMO.

Let’s hope this new lead goes somewhere so her family and friends can get some closure at last.
 
I have been following this case closely from the outset so I was really interested in the police activity last week as it seems to support one of my theories about her disappearance.

CCTV – The police stated early on that she was not picked up on any CCTV on the morning of her disappearance. She was last captured on CCTV when posting a letter at the Melrosegate post office whilst walking home the previous afternoon (see here). To the north and west of her house is the Limes Court student accommodation site, which seems to be well served with CCTV, but sadly there is very little coverage to the south which was her normal route to the University. All we know for certain is she did not reach the post office on foot that morning (which is 2/3 the way to the University). Neither of the two potential witness sightings were ever confirmed as being her.

The Melrosegate bridge sighting (here) – although the timing and the description of the woman seem to match there is lot of confusion over which day this occurred. A number of sources (including the original Crimewatch web site and Neil Root’s book on the case) put this on the previous day (18th March) which seems to make it irrelevant. Other sources now put this on the 19th. Also the man (the ‘left handed smoker’) was on foot so if he had attacked her how did he remove the body from the scene? Surely he would not have risked returning with vehicle later on?

Her house has been extensively searched by both investigation teams – the second time (Oct. 2013) they were in there for six weeks, so I think it’s unlikely they would miss a body hidden in such a small property. Also if she was killed there I doubt the killer would have wanted to spend a long time hiding the body as they would not know when she would be missed, and when someone would turn up at the house.

I am puzzled by the search of the alleyway as it is very unlikely to lead anywhere, but the re-interviewing of the residents / former residents seems to be a move in the right direction IMO.

Let’s hope this new lead goes somewhere so her family and friends can get some closure at last.

Welcome to Ws. HydraMan, thanks for the great post!
 
I must admit, I haven't followed this case closely, but to overlook at whole area behind her house is crazy! I know it's doubtful they'll find something but I'm glad they are actually doing a through search this time.
 
That would not be surprising, imo.
If true, would females hide a person in a different place and fashion from a male?
Don't think that body disposal methods are particularly gender specific.

Perhaps would have needed help moving the body.
 
Regarding the amount of bodies pulled from the river Ouse, there are 365 bars in York and it seems have become a destination for binge drinking, unfortunately.
 
Regarding the amount of bodies pulled from the river Ouse, there are 365 bars in York and it seems have become a destination for binge drinking, unfortunately.

Having spent my entire 43 years living in York I don't think the city is any different to most other cities in the UK, is 365 bars a lot for a city with a population nearing 1/4 of a million? Genuine question, I haven't myself been 'out' to a bar since.. I think 2002. The drinking culture is definitely there of course, but no different to any other University City in the UK. MOO
 
Regarding the amount of bodies pulled from the river Ouse, there are 365 bars in York and it seems have become a destination for binge drinking, unfortunately.
Where did you get the figure of 365? Seems exceptionally high.

Leeds (which has a population > 750,000) has approximately 180.

Leeds is more than double the size of York.
 
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