Found Deceased UK - Nicola Bulley, 45, last seen walking her dog on footpath by the river, Inskip, Lancashire, 27 Jan 2023

[4441]

My thoughts are that she has probably had an accident and will be found drowned.

There is one other thing that comes to mind though. In the U.K. today is the last day to file self assessment tax forms and pay taxes for the past year. It can be a really stressful time for a lot of people. I have no idea whether this lady was under any financial pressure or had any mental health problems but January can be a particularly difficult time. I’m not suggesting this is linked but it is just something that occurred to me.

An accident is by far the most probable cause of disappearance when you consider NB was alone and near a stretch of water. Her dog probably stayed exactly where she went missing from.

It would be fantastic to have a happy ending though and I’ll keep following this thread and hoping for good news.

 

[in2thegate]

My thoughts are that she has probably had an accident and will be found drowned.

There is one other thing that comes to mind though. In the U.K. today is the last day to file self assessment tax forms and pay taxes for the past year. It can be a really stressful time for a lot of people. I have no idea whether this lady was under any financial pressure or had any mental health problems but January can be a particularly difficult time. I’m not suggesting this is linked but it is just something that occurred to me.

An accident is by far the most probable cause of disappearance when you consider NB was alone and near a stretch of water. Her dog probably stayed exactly where she went missing from.

It would be fantastic to have a happy ending though and I’ll keep following this thread and hoping for good news.

I never thought of the self assessment time of year. Good shout. I really hope she is found soon, the poor girls.

 

[jiminy]

Is it possible that she, the kids and the dog took a bus as part of the school run? If the school catchment covers a fairly large area, there will be a bus service of some description so kids without access to a car can get there. (Why would she do that? Maybe so the kids can one day do it under their own steam, maybe to keep a potentially mucky dog out of the car on the way back.)

 

[infinit]

My gut is that sadly either by accident or intentionally she has ended up in the river. I'm leaning more towards accident because I'm sure she could have created some excuse to go out which didn't involve just leaving the dog on a tow path. Or perhaps if she was suicidal she simply wouldn't care about such triviality.

I wonder if there was any sign that the dog had been in the river e.g wet coat. That could explain a lot given the current flow and temperature in most rivers after the substantial rainfall in December and early Jan.

 

[SpursGyal]

My gut is that sadly either by accident or intentionally she has ended up in the river. I'm leaning more towards accident because I'm sure she could have created some excuse to go out which didn't involve just leaving the dog on a tow path. Or perhaps if she was suicidal she simply wouldn't care about such triviality.

I wonder if there was any sign that the dog had been in the river e.g wet coat. That could explain a lot given the current flow and temperature in most rivers after the substantial rainfall in December and early Jan.

It’s been said that the dog was dry.

 

[Lincolnshirelad]

My thoughts are that she has probably had an accident and will be found drowned.

There is one other thing that comes to mind though. In the U.K. today is the last day to file self assessment tax forms and pay taxes for the past year. It can be a really stressful time for a lot of people. I have no idea whether this lady was under any financial pressure or had any mental health problems but January can be a particularly difficult time. I’m not suggesting this is linked but it is just something that occurred to me.

An accident is by far the most probable cause of disappearance when you consider NB was alone and near a stretch of water. Her dog probably stayed exactly where she went missing from.

It would be fantastic to have a happy ending though and I’ll keep following this thread and hoping for good news.

Looking on companies house - in the UK that's where you can find financial information she's not filed any tax returns under her name. On her Facebook it shows she works for an agency that connects you with clients. Shes worked in this role for 1 year according to her Linkedin.

It is possible the agency job isn't paying enough as she was in a well paid job as her previous role. That would certainly cause financial issues in the current mortgage market we have in the UK. Agency work in specialist sectors can be extremely hard when it comes to financial tightening like this.

 

[infinit]

Looking on companies house - in the UK that's where you can find financial information she's not filed any tax returns under her name. On her Facebook it shows she works for an agency that connects you with clients. Shes worked in this role for 1 year according to her Linkedin.

It is possible the agency job isn't paying enough as she was in a well paid job as her previous role. That would certainly cause financial issues in the current mortgage market we have in the UK. Agency work in specialist sectors can be extremely hard when it comes to financial tightening like this.

That's not a bad shout. My partner works in mortgages and has a lot of former colleagues/friends who work in similar set ups to what you describe. Often you have a base salary and then earn commission on sales. To earn a 'good' living you really need the "typical" commission. The market is always dead around Christmas, but the increase in interest rates and cost of living has really put the brakes on the market.

 

[Edinlass]

<modsnip - no link to strava>

I feel the most likely scenario is she’s been distracted on the work call and can’t find willow so lays the phone down on the bench to go find the dog most likely slipping into the water. I appreciate she should have been found by now but stranger things have happened.

 

[Sweeper2000]

How can they be so certain?

Lack of evidence. Any struggle normally leaves marks. ie gauges in the ground from feet being dragged backwards. No signs of feet kicking, no indication of any frantic movement. Applies also to a fall into the river. No sign of compressed vegetation indicating a slide into the water or marks near the bank. Not entirely sure you could notice it though.

 

[Edvis]

Keep searching that river since bodies of water are prime dumping grounds. Time and time again things are missed on multiple searches, even vehicles.

 

[heartandsoul]

How can they be so certain?

I would assume that they have obtained information that strongly indicates either a tragic accident or an intentional act of some kind. I have gone a full 180 on this case and find myself leaning more towards the later. I hope they are able to locate her safely.

 

[Edinlass]

Looking at her FB page activity she posted nearly every day between the end of September 2022 - December 2022 but before this nothing and after this nothing. It was as if she never realised the posts were public, maybe a new phone or something. Seems odd but maybe just a coincidence. I hope they find her soon. Her poor girls.

 

[3point5]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hi all

I've got to say I'm hugely leaning towards the mundane answer of "she fell into the water".

I see people have mentioned the water "only" being a couple of feet deep. I think that mostly shows how little people swim in rivers. Anyone thats spent any time in flowing water can tell you the power it holds.

I hope she is found alive and well and perhaps just needed a few days to get away from it all, but I fear that's extremely unlikely. I can't believe she'd leave her dog like that, nor her children.

 

[Alyce]

......had placed her phone on a bench, where it was found after she had been reported missing.

Her dog, Willow, was found about an hour later.

Superintendent Riley added: “People do go missing but clearly as time goes on we do become more and more concerned for Nicola. But we’re very much hoping that we will find something to try to bring her home safe and well soon.

Bulley’s phone was “in use at the time she went missing”. The fact it was found on a bench “doesn’t raise our suspicions at all” about the circumstances of her disappearance, Superintendent Riley added.

Nicola Bulley: partner of woman missing in Lancashire describes family’s ‘perpetual hell’

Officers have found 45-year-old’s phone and say they are ‘extremely concerned’ after she went missing on Friday

www.theguardian.com

 

[Edinlass]

If only dogs could talk. So many cases recently with dogs involved whereby they could unlock the answers quickly.

 

[•Star•]

If she was trying to leave of her own accord, with a dog by her side that is a breed known to not let you out of their sight, she would have tethered it to the bench. Leaving her stuff Sherri Papini style doesn’t work with a clingy dog in tow.

 

[WiseOwl]

Latest update from the BBC:

Nicola Bulley: Key witness found in search for dog walker

The man, aged about 70, was seen in the River Wyre area around the time Nicola Bulley disappeared.

www.bbc.co.uk

Supt Sally Riley said the force was keeping "a really open mind about what could have happened but we do believe that the likelihood is that Nicola has gone missing and this is not a crime inquiry".

 

[Sweeper2000]

Agree with the police. Raises two possibilities imo. Phone was placed on bench and deliberately left, phone was placed on bench and she had no opportunity to retrieve it. The police stated dog was found between bench and river, suggesting it was untethered at time of discovery, that’s not good. Dogs can’t follow scent near water suggesting dog stayed at last place the two were together. Doesn’t explain the lack of indication that she went in though.

 

[jiminy]

I've not read every report but I'm struck by the lack of direct appeals to Nicola herself. I see appeals to people to check cctv but not "it's ok, please call the police and just let them know you're fine" that I've seen.

 

[•Star•]

Latest update from the BBC:

Nicola Bulley: Key witness found in search for dog walker

The man, aged about 70, was seen in the River Wyre area around the time Nicola Bulley disappeared.

www.bbc.co.uk

Supt Sally Riley said the force was keeping "a really open mind about what could have happened but we do believe that the likelihood is that Nicola has gone missing and this is not a crime inquiry".

That just seems weird to me ‘gone missing’ just sounds as if they think it’s deliberate. Although what else would they say if they thought she’d gone in the water?