Found Deceased UK - Nicola Bulley Last Seen Walking Dog Near River - St Michaels on Wyre (Lancashire) #7

[Just-a-random-girl]

Yes … if a stranger. But what if a person known to her.. or at least familiar?

Well, the same, I guess. It would depend on whether the sound from the conference call was loud. For any chance meeting (known person or not) where an individual called her from afar, if she was at the bench when they beckoned her it would make sense to leave the phone on the bench and walk over. With it being a rural area she wouldn't have concerns about it being stolen.

 

[todders]

And yet yesterday the police said this in their update.

"We can say with confidence that by reviewing CCTV, Nicola has not left the field during the key times via Rowanwater, either through the site itself or via the piece of land at the side."

So it seems the CCTV was working, or there was another camera that had a view of the exit.

I would guess that rowanwater does have additional cameras covering the entrance to the park or somewhere along the route. If you read the description of the park in the link below it seems they are quite security minded with gates being locked at particular times and residents being giving a key for access to the park. This however does not explain the non working camera. IMO

https://www.sellmygroup.co.uk/park/Rowanwater-1274

 

[lalalemon]

How do you think GPS works? It's not exact, but it's pretty close.

But even GPS isn't that accurate that in can determine if something is on the bench as apposed to under it for example!

 

[Markepson]

Reasons the phone could be on the bench are endless:

- Regularly sat on the bench as part of routine
- Important part of conference call
- Stopped for rest/snack
- Stone in shoe/welly
- Putting harness/lead on dog
- Playing with dog
- Issue with dog (e.g. chasing animal)
- Issue with another dog walker
- Met someone for a chat (pre-arranged)
- Someone approached or asked directions
- Felt unwell

If a stranger was involved and approached her (e.g. from the caravan park or gate to ask directions or talk about her dog) it would make sense to put the phone on bench and then walk away from it. She would not want to the stranger to hear the details of the call if it was on loudspeaker, for example. Rather than spend time messing around with the sound settings (e.g. and risk disconnecting), walking away from it would probably be most feasible in an isolated/rural area.

For me it’s not a question of why the phone was on the Bench or on the floor but why the phone wasn’t in her hand.

 

[Fishwick]

The point is also GPS can be combined with other data, like gyroscope as @CoverMeCagney mentions up thread.

So we have the reference point of where the phone was found as a relatively precise end point - then they know approximately when and how the phone moved to that end point.

The phone has specific used for the gyroscope e.g. screen rotation. I would doubt whether it stores the information though - surely over time storing every movement would clog up the storage.

 

[Sjöberg]

did her partner not have any concerns she had been away for two hours Until this time. Her walks weren’t that long usually.

Plenty of times in my life a family member or friend hasn't returned when I expected or has behaved abnormally.

I agree. Long chats or impromptu coffees after the school run are fairly common and wouldn't normally cause alarm. JMO

It did raise an eyebrow initially, especially in contrast with the reaction upon being contacted - calls the police pretty much immediately.

But after a thought, it actually makes sense. It was a workday. He was probably focused on work or at a meeting and maybe did not even realise she was not back. Plenty of times I've arrived home while my partner has his door closed and is speaking at a meeting - I don't pull open the door and yell "Hi", I just quietly carry on with my own stuff, as he might have a mic on or even the camera on! He just assumes I'm home as per usual.

As for now, my first theory is an accident and my second one is either of the Voldemorts. I don't think a stranger abduction is likely and there is not really enough time for anyone to attack her and throw the body into the river, I guess.

 

[DaFroome]

What’s the small brick building just along the river path from the bench?

 

[Markepson]

What’s the small brick building just along the river path from the bench?

It’s a great place to hide a person if it’s locked

 

[3point5]

It’s a great place to hide a person if it’s locked

Is it? 20ft away from where she went missing?

 

[Mycroft42]

What’s the small brick building just along the river path from the bench?

My guess is something to do with the water board - not seen it mentioned anywhere though. Police will have searched it but we don't specifcally know for sure.

 

[Mycroft42]

Delete - duplicate post.

 

[Paper sky]

Thinking about NB being logged in to teams, if she had it on loud speaker and was either walking with it in her hand or she was sitting on the bench- an assailant would have to be very sure that she had it on mute else the whole call would hear any commotion. Pretty risky.

 

[Atoz]

Why?

The police would’ve found the phone within hours and would immediately know they were dealing with an abduction from the phone data.

It’s far more cunning to leave it on the bench, which leaves the police bamboozled and all possibilities open.

If this is an abduction, then it’s a very well planned one.

Perhaps. But without the phone and harness, who would have noticed? When would they have noticed? Where would they have pinpointed a place to start searching?

 

[Just-a-random-girl]

We haven't heard much about the police searching houses, buildings, sheds and lodges etc. In missing person enquiries it's not unusual for police to ask permission (e.g. no need for a warrant) from householders just to rule out the possibility. LE did this with the Libby Squire and Leah Croucher cases and most individuals are happy to let them.

I can't help wondering if there are septic tanks in the area? Highly unlikely scenario but, still, as police haven't found her in the water yet have they explored the possibility?

 

[Jarvis1969]

Did I read somewhere that her Fitbit had synced up to the Tuesday? What information would they be able to get from that?

 

[DickieDumDum]

Thinking about NB being logged in to teams, if she had it on loud speaker and was either walking with it in her hand or she was sitting on the bench- an assailant would have to be very sure that she had it on mute else the whole call would hear any commotion. Pretty risky.

Agreed, that would be risky, but surely the riskiest part would be trying to abduct someone who is with their dog!

Unfortunately it seems extremely likely that she fell into the river to me. If she did then I hope she is found soon to bring her family some answers.

 

[Mr X]

Two possible reasons for searching further upstream:

1. If someone climbed down to retrieve an object (harness?) they may have found it difficult to get out so walked along in the water to look for another exit point. Cold water shock and perhaps varying depth of water then takes over.

2. If the river is tidal further down there could be a situation where a big tide (spring tide) comes over the weir and reverses the usual direction of water movement in the area.

IMO

I personally think this an accidental drowning and the body will be found within a short distance of the area where the dog harness was found.

If the harness was wet when found this could be what led the police to the same conclusion.

 

[DaFroome]

My guess is something to do with the water board - not seen it mentioned anywhere though. Police will have searched it but we don't specifcally know for sure.

Wyre Day Ticket Junior (u18) – St. Michaels Angling Association

stmichaelsaa.co.uk

Angling club possibly, according to this link. Some interestingly named angling spots listed. Including one at the bench (deep hole) and the brick building.

 

[mrjitty]

We haven't heard much about the police searching houses, buildings, sheds and lodges etc. In missing person enquiries it's not unusual for police to ask permission (e.g. no need for a warrant) from householders just to rule out the possibility. LE did this with the Libby Squire and Leah Croucher cases and most individuals are happy to let them.

I can't help wondering if there are septic tanks in the area? Highly unlikely scenario but, still, as police haven't found her in the water yet have they explored the possibility?

Often they will search outbuildings and yards that someone could illicitly/easily access.

But in this case, with a disappearance on a country lane, it is not as if there are many such relevant locations to search

 

[Eskimo4]

The lead and harness, from the moment NB wasn’t holding them, can be placed, moved, face up/down, locked/unlocked, on/around the bench, to the ground/floor.
But the dog, for the most part was free to do whatever it wanted. Even if it was tethered, then got free. Once free, the dog doesn’t see ‘path’ or ‘gate’!
The style, wooden or metal gate or an even a second gate wouldn’t be an obstacle. All the parks, paths, lanes, roads are accessible for the dog.
If she went back through the gate the dog can still access her by going round the gate and not through.
Willow could have gone in any direction but stayed near/around the bench!