UK Eliza & Henrietta Huszti, sisters both 32, CCTV captures them near a river at 2am, Aberdeen, 7 Jan 2025.

[Coach]

I have read a good few posts about walking with purpose. The weather has been so cold here - I am local, live less than an hour from Aberdeen (know the City well) and my brother in law lives in Torry. They could have been walking briskly simply because of the cold and adverse conditions. Also, it is possible to go from the path to South Esplanade West. There is also more than one boat club on the river there, Aberdeen Boat Club, Aberdeen University and RGC University Boat Clubs are also there.

 

[Coach]

Sorry, meant to attach these photos to my post. There is more than one point to exit the path to get to South Esplanade West.

<modsnip: Image removed due to copyright violation. All images require a link to give credit to the original source>

 

[TonnnnUK]

How do people know they are "walking with purpose" from a still CCTV image? Or has there been some video footage released I've missed?

Afaik there has not been detailed the time of the CCTV footage, only mention of the time when they entered the path by the river just after 2am. So we can't tell if they walked briskly to that path, or if they in fact took some time to get there.

 

[iamshadow21]

How do people know they are "walking with purpose" from a still CCTV image? Or has there been some video footage released I've missed?

Afaik there has not been detailed the time of the CCTV footage, only mention of the time when they entered the path by the river just after 2am. So we can't tell if they walked briskly to that path, or if they in fact took some time to get there.

I assume they could judge their rate of speed and direction from multiple images. That they were walking in a fixed direction, without dawdling or looking about.

MOO

 

[WiseOwl]

Due to lack of any sightings since the early hours of Tuesday morning, it really does look like the sisters have ended up in the river.

Hoping that they are located today.

 

[LadyL]

this is quite bizarre
why would they bring a purse on a suicide mission?
but why else would they be going to the river path?

 

[TonnnnUK]

I assume they could judge their rate of speed and direction from multiple images. That they were walking in a fixed direction, without dawdling or looking about.

MOO

But that's my point. Isn't the only image released the CCTV one, which has been pinpointed to a mile away from the path by the river without any indicated time. Have the official statements released mentioned they seemed "purposeful" or words to that effect? Or are people making that judgement based on this single frame capture?

 

[TonnnnUK]

this is quite bizarre
why would they bring a purse on a suicide mission?
but why else would they be going to the river path?

Someone earlier in the thread made a fair point that if that was their intention, some "dutch courage" is likely. The bag could have been used to carry alcohol, to consume before they went ahead with it.

 

[Noseyjosie]

As to the "walking with purpose" angle.....Gaynor Lord was seen on cctv walking, and running, towards Wensum Park, where she entered the river.

I think we tend to assume that someone intending to take their own life would be meandering, distressed etc, - but once the decision has been made I imagine the person might actually be quite calm and logical.

JMO

 

[WiseOwl]

Someone earlier in the thread made a fair point that if that was their intention, some "dutch courage" is likely. The bag could have been used to carry alcohol, to consume before they went ahead with it.

Or possibly some medication to take before entering the water.

 

[Normal Norm]

But that's my point. Isn't the only image released the CCTV one, which has been pinpointed to a mile away from the path by the river without any indicated time. Have the official statements released mentioned they seemed "purposeful" or words to that effect? Or are people making that judgement based on this single frame capture?

The latter, I think.

 

[Sarahlou]

this is quite bizarre
why would they bring a purse on a suicide mission?
but why else would they be going to the river path?

Victoria Taylor (for example) had a backpack and a bag, she went into a shop and bought some items before going into the river. Sometimes these things don't make much sense. People just carry on as normal until the last moment.

 

[WiseOwl]

Not much of an update this morning from Aberdeen Live:

Search for missing Aberdeen sisters extended as police scour coast

Specialist police resources, including helicopter, dog branch and the marine unit, have been assisting with the search for Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both aged 32.

www.aberdeenlive.news

Specialist resources, including the police helicopter, dog branch and the marine unit, along with emergency service partners, have been assisting in the searches. Police Scotland officers will remain at the scene while further searches, including the coast towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour, and towards Duthie Park, are carried out.​

 

[Coach]

In terms of health (mental and physical), we don’t know. On the outside people can look very healthy, even when they have just been diagnosed with a condition. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. I wondered if they were on their way to a cleaning job as some firms do have them working through the night and odd hours up here. Perhaps one of them slipped and tumbled into the water? The other would have gone in too. If they had gone in intentionally why would they go via the path when entry could have been from the bridge or also from the other side of the river? They crossed the bridge. It is possible to walk up from the path onto the street and if there is no CCTV on South Esplanade West (there is more than one point this could be done), they could have done so without being seen. I know this is unlikely but it is possible. If the Police are focusing on the river then they may well have information to support this. Do we know if they could swim?

 

[TonnnnUK]

To debunk the going to work angle, only 1 of them is a cleaner so why would the other go along?
Also, if that was the case surely the wording from police would specify that they reported missing after one of them had not turning up for her expected shift (in the night time).

Being due to work around that time completely changes the narrative as it would indicate the intensions to be at a specified location.

I'm pretty sure the family have said they don't know why they would be out in the town at that time of night.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

Of note, I think, is that one sister had a good sized crossbody bag on her…in regards to self harm….unless it was decided after they’d already left home and been out for a bit, I feel like there aren’t ‘usually’ packed personal items in those instances. MOO

 

[LittleSeaTree]

Sorry if my thoughts above were already discussed! I just woke up and didn’t realize there were so many pages on the thread already-apparently that awareness takes coffee!

 

[elframo]

No, I think the nearest Asda would be at Garthdee, which is nowhere near and much further down the river. It is not 24 hour anymore I don’t think.

There is a 24 hour Polish newsagents on Market Street, but they would have walked past that and across the bridge.

Thanks I've been gone 8 years and forgotten so much

 

[Binx26]

The lack of further information from the police, in my opinion, sadly seems like they have some info to suggested they entered the river.

Surely by now the police would have released additional details including the potential route they took, other areas where people should check cameras/dashcam footage to assist with their enquiries etc.

 

[Sjöberg]

but if you're about to end your life in an almost freezing river, why would you bother?

Honestly, people mostly just run on "default". I've known people taking their vitamins in the morning with full knowledge that they're going to hang themselves in the afternoon. What's the point? Medically, none. People even make purchases they never recieve, ask questions they never read the answers for and often stay involved in plans of events/trips that they don't plan to attend. Being dressed for the weather also helps to not stand out and therefore get interrupted.

why would they bring a purse on a suicide mission?

With a water death, it does look odd. Now it could be something connected to the suicide, like alcohol or pills to help with the act or some last letters/items they are planning to use/send. Though we have no evidence of either being the case.
Most importantly, where is the bag now? It is not a backpack, strapped from the chest. The messenger bag would be very inconvinient to take along to the drowning and it is extremely unlikely to not come off the body during or after the act.

People just carry on as normal until the last moment.

Amen! Many times the "but why would they x if they're going to kill themselves?" boils down to that, imo.

There seems to be little known about this case, and the women. Nobody seems to have come forward

I am unsure, if that's fairly common for the UK cases or is it really notably different? As my examples are far and between, I don't really see it as too odd for now.