UK Manchester, Female, 5ft1, age/ethnicity unknown, neon green crop-top, found in River Mersey, 21 March '24.

[Normal Norm]

The police have now identified this lady as Laura Stanley, 38, originally from Derbyshire, who was living in Stockport.

Article in the Manchester Evening News

 

[wtiger]

shows that vanishing into thin air is easier than many would think.

4 years since she was found yet apparently nobody had realised that she had disappeared!

does make you think with regard to many other cases

 

[Susikatze]

shows that vanishing into thin air is easier than many would think.

4 years since she was found yet apparently nobody had realised that she had disappeared!

does make you think with regard to many other cases

She was found a year ago and went missing two months before she was found, body was thought to be in the water 1-2 months

 

[dotr]

Woman identified a year after her body was found in River Mersey in Manchester

One of Laura Stanley's relatives contacted Greater Manchester Police after a facial reconstruction image was released.

news.sky.com

''A DNA match was then confirmed through a familial link.
Ms Stanley was originally from Derbyshire and had been living in Stockport.
Her family said in a tribute: "Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure.''
''Investigators are now trying to piece together the final movements of Ms Stanley, who is believed to have last been seen around January 2024.''

https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/march/woman-discovered-in-the-river-mersey-last-year-identified-following-extensive-investigation/

''This included detailed checks of both national and international databases, and collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile. This work culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.

Following several media appeals, which generated dozens of calls, a relative of Laura contacted officers, who subsequently were able to confirm a DNA match through a familial link.''

 

[Dave32]

The reports say there was a "missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body", it'll be interesting to see why no-one put two and two together. She apparently had two young children so must have had many people missing her.

 

[rightsaidfred]

The pictures look quite old - I haven't seen a hat like that in years, possibly the late 00s, when she would have been in her early 20s? It's surprising that there wasn't a more recent photo available.

Two young children - I wonder if they were in her care?

The missing person report seems not to have been taken seriously. A white woman, a mother, missing from home would normally be taken seriously if it was out of character - think Nicola Bulley - does this hint at it not being out of character? I wonder who made the report.

Last seen January 2024, body found March 2024 and not identified until March 2025 - it doesn't really suggest that anyone was looking for her - not even those who had taken on the care of her young children. Normally families are being very proactive with the police, media and social media in a much shorter timeframe. Perhaps they weren't in regular contact.

 

[Cartie]

I think these 2 are her fb profiles, although not a lot on them I do find them interesting.

Laura Stanley

Laura Stanley is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Laura Stanley and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

Laura Bean Stanley

Laura Bean Stanley is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Laura Bean Stanley and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

 

[Kittypoo]

I think these 2 are her fb profiles, although not a lot on them I do find them interesting.

Laura Stanley

Laura Stanley is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Laura Stanley and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

Laura Bean Stanley

Laura Bean Stanley is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Laura Bean Stanley and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

There is a third profile with an emoji as the photo. Same man and woman are pictured.
Sad seeing her two little girls though and that no one appeared to miss her.
I’m curious to know what you find interesting Carrie. A couple of things stood out to me.

 

[Cartie]

There is a third profile with an emoji as the photo. Same man and woman are pictured.
Sad seeing her two little girls though and that no one appeared to miss her.
I’m curious to know what you find interesting Carrie. A couple of things stood out to me.

It looks like she entered a new relationship not long before she went missing and they may of been the reason she moved, they both, on face value created their profiles around the same time then both nothing. It might be because everything is private but I don't get that feeling.
Also he and no one on her friends list has any public post asking for help to find her.
Just seems really sad.

 

[Kittypoo]

It looks like she entered a new relationship not long before she went missing and they may of been the reason she moved, they both, on face value created their profiles around the same time then both nothing. It might be because everything is private but I don't get that feeling.
Also he and no one on her friends list has any public post asking for help to find her.
Just seems really sad.

I noticed the male has relationship status of its complicated which raises alarm bells. Hers appears to change from in relationship to engaged.
I’m not familiar with the area as to how far Stockport is to Derby but I think the River Mersey is quite a distance away to end up.
Apologies spell check changed your name Cartie