Found Deceased UK - Nicola Bulley Last Seen Walking Dog Near River - St Michaels on Wyre (Lancashire) #2

[suzyjackson]

The house across the river, <modsnip> seems like a big red flag to me.

If the river is shallow enough to wade across, as seen in some of the photos of the police wading beside boats, could an individual have tempted Nicola across the river, <modsnip> pretending they need help, and then brought her by force through the gate to the property? A previous poster pointed out the access gate is nearly opposite the bench.

You can see from the aerial photos it's a massive house. Apparently "abandoned" but the owner was in to answer the door. Nicola did the same route almost every day.<modsnip - speculating negatively about a person who has not been named a suspect or POI>

IIf someone was asking for help that needed you to cross the river wouldn't the first thing you'd do be to phone for help and then take your phone across with you

As a lone female I can't think of a situation in which I'd enter a body of water as a first resort unless a child was in danger and there were no parents there

I'm finding it hard to imagine. Jmoo

 

[suzyjackson]

Re the dog's harness, where is that coming from? I've only seen the police say that the lead was on the bench which makes sense if she'd say down to listen to the call and the dog was running round
Would the bench have been wet at the time? Is sitting down something a person would have done or more likely to have placed the items there?

 

[todders]

IIf someone was asking for help that needed you to cross the river wouldn't the first thing you'd do be to phone for help and then take your phone across with you

As a lone female I can't think of a situation in which I'd enter a body of water as a first resort unless a child was in danger and there were no parents there

I'm finding it hard to imagine. Jmoo

The only way that would work would be if someone had been involved from the property in her disappearance and she took the phone with her and they then planted it back on the bench otherwise like you say you would have taken the phone with you. IMO

 

[kittythehare]

The only way that would work would be if someone had been involved from the property in her disappearance and she took the phone with her and they then planted it back on the bench otherwise like you say you would have taken the phone with you. IMO

Property is allegedly unoccupied.
It is possible that people were hanging out there partying or whatever.
They could have crossed if the river was low.
But this is me making speculation soup because they would surely have left traces and police are all over it..
But it is a possibility.

 

[jimwareing]

Hi, first time poster etc - but I've just spotted this in the Daily Mirror article (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-nicola-bulleys-parents-share-29104874):-

"Dot said: "Louise had just booked Ribby Hall because they both had spa vouchers, she had just sent Nicola the night before the treatments.

"Louise booked it on Friday morning and sent it to Nicola but she never got back to her. "They are very close."

Unless I'm reading that wrong, NB's sister booked a spa treatment for herself and NB and sent it to NB the night before, but NB never got back to her? If NB wasn't responding to messages the previous night, how sure should we be that any of her supposed movements on Friday morning are accurate?

 

[YaYa_521]

MOD NOTE:

No one has been officially designated by law enforcement or in mainstream media as a Person of Interest or suspect. Statements made by family members and other third parties are open for discussion as the facts of the case are reported in the media. Members may reasonably discuss what is said in MSM by them or about them, but do not make random accusations, insinuations, suggest their involvement, trash, bash or attack them, or speculate negatively about them.

 

[pineapple23]

For me, the speed of response from the police is key in this case. Something must have triggered them to act so immediately. But what? I suspect they are withholding info, and must have good reason for doing so. MOO.

Yes others have said similar so I'm probably alone in not being surprised. Lone female doesn't return from walk near river but 'phone and dog found makes it highly possible she has at the least had an accident and could be in or near the water - in which case speed is of the essence.

 

[todders]

Police hunting missing mum search river & perimeter of deserted house

Not a lot of new information from the daily mail article,as it relays the same information as the daily mirror article posted earlier. The only difference is as below

"Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell, who was being comforted by relatives at the couple's home in Inskip, around two miles from where she vanished, was too upset to speak today"

 

[Jade848484]

Just to confirm the link with Thornton Cleveleys is due to that being where family members live. We live down the road from her parents, it’s hard to even put into words what lovely people they are. Hoping and praying for a happy outcome to all this as I am sure all of us are. Can anybody clarify when the statement was made saying Willow was found between the bench and the river, are we to assume directly at the bench? Was Willow sat waiting or behaving frantically? What about the dogs ball and launcher that it shows in one of the photos? Is it possible somebody placed the items, walked to the exit with dog off leash following then threw the ball for Willow to chase then slipped out of the exit leaving the dog bewildered? A long shot but lots of things do not sit right with me at the moment.

 

[QB2022]

I hope she is found soon, something about this makes me feel really uneasy.

 

[suzyjackson]

Hi, first time poster etc - but I've just spotted this in the Daily Mirror article (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-nicola-bulleys-parents-share-29104874):-

"Dot said: "Louise had just booked Ribby Hall because they both had spa vouchers, she had just sent Nicola the night before the treatments.

"Louise booked it on Friday morning and sent it to Nicola but she never got back to her. "They are very close."

Unless I'm reading that wrong, NB's sister booked a spa treatment for herself and NB and sent it to NB the night before, but NB never got back to her? If NB wasn't responding to messages the previous night, how sure should we be that any of her supposed movements on Friday morning are accurate?

If I ever go missing let me tell you not to read anything into unanswered messages, like many people I'm not glued to my phone and it would mean absolutely nothing.

The police are satisfied with the eye witnesses and the children are old enough to say what happened on the morning. Anything else would be a major conspiracy imo and didn't happen.

 

[kittythehare]

Just to confirm the link with Thornton Cleveleys is due to that being where family members live. We live down the road from her parents, it’s hard to even put into words what lovely people they are. Hoping and praying for a happy outcome to all this as I am sure all of us are. Can anybody clarify when the statement was made saying Willow was found between the bench and the river, are we to assume directly at the bench? Was Willow sat waiting or behaving frantically? What about the dogs ball and launcher that it shows in one of the photos? Is it possible somebody placed the items, walked to the exit with dog off leash following then threw the ball for Willow to chase then slipped out of the exit leaving the dog bewildered? A long shot but lots of things do not sit right with me at the moment.

Hi Jade.
A warm welcome to you and I'm so sorry it is under these circumstances.
Great points regarding Willow's toys.
AFAIK statement about location of Willow was made by the police, i'm not sure when.

I saw no description of her behaviour.
I had a springer for many years and I know how they behave.
They just do not leave the person unless distracted...
Lots to think about.

Edit to add link which does not actually attribute comment to police

Nicola Bulley: Missing dog walker's parents fear 'somebody has got her'

Nicola Bulley's father says the place where his daughter went missing is "isolated" and there is no sign of a "a slip or falling in" to the River Wyre in Lancashire.

news.sky.com

Edit again.
Apologies.
Here is the link to which I referred
Lancashire Police said the witness, who was walking a white fluffy dog in the area, was "currently being spoken to".
The man "spoke to the woman in the area who found Nicola's dog near a bench in the field", the force said in an earlier statement.

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.com

But there is an even earlier link from police which I have not found yet, will keep trying.

 

[Alyce]

Hi, first time poster etc - but I've just spotted this in the Daily Mirror article (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-nicola-bulleys-parents-share-29104874):-

"Dot said: "Louise had just booked Ribby Hall because they both had spa vouchers, she had just sent Nicola the night before the treatments.

"Louise booked it on Friday morning and sent it to Nicola but she never got back to her. "They are very close."

Unless I'm reading that wrong, NB's sister booked a spa treatment for herself and NB and sent it to NB the night before, but NB never got back to her? If NB wasn't responding to messages the previous night, how sure should we be that any of her supposed movements on Friday morning are accurate?

Welcome to Websleuths.

As often happens, I think it's just badly written.

I read it that Louise sent Nicola a list of the treatments the night before ( Thursday ) so that Nicola could choose what she wanted.
Then, on the Friday morning, Louise went ahead and made the booking with the Spa.

 

[Firstsnow4]

Police hunting missing mum search river & perimeter of deserted house

Not a lot of new information from the daily mail article,as it relays the same information as the daily mirror article posted earlier. The only difference is as below

"Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell, who was being comforted by relatives at the couple's home in Inskip, around two miles from where she vanished, was too upset to speak today"

I’m not sure how anyone would react or feel if their long term partner had gone missing. There doesn’t seem to have been much come out from the partner though, no pleads for information etc. I’m pretty sure if I went missing my partner would be shouting from the rooftops and speaking as much as possible to get information out. But as I say we have never been in that position so it’s impossible to know. So sad. JMO.

 

[JumpingFrog]

Just to confirm the link with Thornton Cleveleys is due to that being where family members live. We live down the road from her parents, it’s hard to even put into words what lovely people they are. Hoping and praying for a happy outcome to all this as I am sure all of us are. Can anybody clarify when the statement was made saying Willow was found between the bench and the river, are we to assume directly at the bench? Was Willow sat waiting or behaving frantically? What about the dogs ball and launcher that it shows in one of the photos? Is it possible somebody placed the items, walked to the exit with dog off leash following then threw the ball for Willow to chase then slipped out of the exit leaving the dog bewildered? A long shot but lots of things do not sit right with me at the moment.

Thinking of her parents, you neighbours and everyone affected by Nicola's disappearance

 

[Jade848484]

Hi Jade.
A warm welcome to you and I'm so sorry it is under these circumstances.
Great points regarding Willow's toys.
AFAIK statement about location of Willow was made by the police, i'm not sure when.

I saw no description of her behaviour.
I had a springer for many years and I know how they behave.
They just do not leave the person unless distracted...
Lots to think about.

Thank you for the welcome, it’s so sad even trying to imagine what the family are going through, I do have lots of faith in LP though, they will do everything necessary to get NB home.

 

[kittythehare]

Thank you for the welcome, it’s so sad even trying to imagine what the family are going through, I do have lots of faith in LP though, they will do everything necessary to get NB home.

I think they will too.

 

[Firstsnow4]

New information here about how the dog was found Police hunting missing mum search river & perimeter of deserted house

Snipped for clarity -
Meanwhile, a business owner who raised the alarm about Ms Bulley's disappearance has spoken for the first time of the moment she came across her 'worried' dog by the side of a river.

The woman, who did not want be named, spotted brown springer spaniel Willow running free on the river bank on Friday morning.

She also found Nicola's mobile phone on a bench by the side of the river, under a tree which has a sign warning of deep water nailed to it.

Bizarrely, Willow was running free and the woman found the dog's harness on the floor next to the river.

She called her daughter-in-law who called Nicola's long-term partner Paul, who dialled 999.

The woman, who runs a business in picturesque St Michaels on Wyre, said she knew of Nicola and hoped nothing 'bad' had happened to her.

Speaking today, she said: 'I saw the dog and I recognised it, but I suddenly couldn't think whose dog it was.

'There was a mobile phone on the bench and there was also something between the bench and the river so I went and looked, and it was a dog harness.

'The dog looked worried so I tied her up and rushed home as I had to go to an appointment.

'I then went and spoke to my daughter-in-law and she immediately knew who the dog was, alerted the woman's partner and that was it - the police were on it.'

 

[3point5]

I think talk of the abandoned house is just the media being the media. Look at the photos posted of it above, that's not abandoned. The lawn is well kept, as are the rest of the grounds. It may not be lived in, but it's hardly abandoned IMO.

 

[DetectiveLawless]

Regarding falling in the water.. I honestly would have thought the police would have found at least footprints/skid marks, flattened wildflower, or some sort of evidence that it actually happened. Even a footprints towards that. If you hit the deck on mud it hurts but at the same time you usually leave an indent at least. If she was conscious more so as she would of potentially tried to save herself. If she passed out perhaps not so much.

The spaniel needs to return to the site, Dogs always want to find their owners and while the spaniel may not find NB it may have some insight or direction at least.

The house gives some sort of stalker motive, and looks like a coincidence, but it would be interesting to see the visual aspect from the windows to the bench to see if she was ever being watched.