Found Deceased Spain - Esther Dingley, from UK, missing in the Pyrenees, November 2020 #1

[CoverMeCagney]

A media advisory announcement from the Esther & Dan FB page:

View attachment 275145

Esther & Dan

EDIT: LBT Global is the renamed Lucie Blackman Trust. For those that don't know, they help support families of being missing or murdered abroad.

Please note: part of this statement says "police have confirmed that the light seen in the campervan was due to their presence"

 

[Grouse]

Every time I read about the possibility of sliding down the mountain straight into the deep lake while wearing a backpack, I am reminded of Michel Trudeau (brother of Prime Minister Trudeau), who, due to avalanche or unstable snow conditions, slid down the mountain into the lake and has never been found.

<snipped for focus>

I keep coming back to thinking about the lakes as well. Don't know if I missed something, but I've read about helicopters,drones and dogs being used, has anyone seen anything about divers? Have the lakes actually been searched? One of the witnesses Snr Ballarin has mentioned the lakes are "quite deep and not transparent at all in a lot of parts" so an overhead check by drone/helicopter might not be enough. Appreciate they might be frozen by now though.

 

[Sjm_qc]

Grain of salt (Daily Fail)...

DEC 10, 2020
Search for Esther Dingley: Spanish police say it's 'impossible' and all but give up | Daily Mail Online
The boyfriend of missing British hiker Esther Dingley has called for a full investigation into the mystery figure spotted sleeping in his girlfriend’s campervan 10 days after she went missing.

[...]

Sources close to the case insist the person pictured in the Chausson van late at night was not Mr Colgate, with whom she has been travelling with for six years.

[...]

But Matt Searle, spokesman for Esther’s family and Mr Colgate, told MailOnline: ‘Daniel and Esther’s family are extremely interested to find out who was inside the camper with the lights on.

[...]

Officers ruled out the van sighting, claiming it was a plain clothed forensic officer – working late at night without protective clothing and driving an unmarked vehicle.

[...]

While Spanish investigators believe Esther is most likely to have suffered an accident in the mountains, their French counterparts across the border believe that is ‘not probable’.

They fear her disappearance is ‘either the result of a voluntary act or as the result of someone else’s actions’.

[...]

Today her family recruited the help of Mr Searle, who works for the missing persons abroad charity LBT Global, formerly known as the Lucie Blackman Trust, who was killed in Japan in 2000 while working as a bar hostess.

Mr Searle told MailOnline the charity would be using all its resources to look for Esther and urged the Guardia Civil to do the same.

[...]

In the supermarket, the Chia seeds had been marked at a discount which only applied to shoppers in possession of a store loyalty card, MC - the teacher who helped Ms Dingley in the shop - explained.

MC told MailOnline: ‘Esther wanted to buy a packet of Chia seeds which were discounted. But you only get the discount if you have the Eroski loyalty card.

[...]

MC explained: ‘I saw her a couple of days later doing yoga in the street by her camper van.

[...]

<modsnip> I almost put a note/caveat in my last few posts warning about DM “lifting” speculation/interpretation they read here (or in comments elsewhere), but decided that would be too provocative .

I’m glad that family have found support & have a designated spokesperson. Hopefully the spokesperson will be able to communicate directly with investigators & elucidate the *facts*.

 

[PommyMommy]

<modsnip> I almost put a note/caveat in my last few posts warning about DM “lifting” speculation/interpretation they read here (or in comments elsewhere), but decided that would be too provocative .

I’m glad that family have found support & have a designated spokesperson. Hopefully the spokesperson will be able to communicate directly with investigators & elucidate the *facts*.

Yes, perhaps I should have typed, "BOX of salt." MOO

 

[ZaZara]

La misteriosa desaparición de la montañera inglesa Esther Dingley

Eighteen days have passed since the disappearance in Benasque of the English hiker Esther Dingley, 37 years of age, and despite the fact that the intense search in and around the Salvaguardia peak has not yielded any results, the Guardia Civíl maintains as its main hypothesis a hiking accident, unaffected by the speculations of the press in that country about other possible causes.

The search was interrupted by the snow storm on Friday and will not be resumed for the time being given the winter conditions. "It is useless to search in a place with more than half a metre of snow," according to Sergeant Jorge López, head of the Greim de Benasque. "This does not mean that we will give up on finding her until spring, because the rescue teams will take their training plan to the valleys where her trail was lost. The last time she was heard from was at the Salvaguardia peak and this is where we will return once the snow disappears."

"It is where she is most likely to be and, although we have already searched a lot, we want to be sure," he added.

The Guardia Civil cannot rule out any possibility of the disappearance of the hiker who was walking alone, because "a great effort has been made in the search without result", according to the sergeant. However, the Guardia Civíl continues to work on the basis that the "most probable" cause is an accident. It would not be the first time that a hiker appears in a place that was already searched without success. "When someone gets lost in the mountains, the first hypothesis is always that they are in the mountains," he said.


BBM

 

[Quietey]

Welcome to WS! Do you have a link to this new report? Please and thank you.

ETA: I’m looking for this myself and can’t find it in the Daily Mail? Or anywhere, in fact.

It in the version of the Daily Mail that you access through PressReader.com - here's the link:

PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

It in the version of the Daily Mail that you access through PressReader.com - here's the link:

PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines.

But it’s been pulled from the DM. I can only assume either it was wrong information, or the police asked for it be deleted due to their investigations.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

<>
"When someone gets lost in the mountains, the first hypothesis is always that they are in the mountains," he said.


BBM

It is still the #1 most likely scenario since there is very little to suggest that there was foul play, or that Esther is still alive somewhere.

I keep hoping for an alternative that means she might be safe and well, because otherwise it could be months until she is found.

 

[GinaSeikwa]

I’m ruling out voluntary disappearance despite what Mr. Ballerin was quoted as saying about her desire to possibly travel to Toulouse. Any other time in history perhaps but not right now during the pandemic. The confinement is very strict. Even in the Aragon region of Spain where she was staying there was a curfew in effect from 23h to 6h while she was there. Along with masks at all times, public places closed or capped etc. . She would have been aware of all these rules and complications.
To travel to Toulouse by train/ bus she would have had to show ID and have her contact information kept for weeks because of contact tracing procedures. She also would need to have her “permission paper” on her to be out and about. The police and civil guard presence is real. The situation is taken very seriously there by residents. Also traveling by public transport in the region is challenging in normal busy times. I can’t imagine the lack of options during a pandemic.
Accident or foul play is the most likely scenario given the circumstances. Suicide where she is hidden as well sadly another possibility.

 

[Skiptolou]

<snipped for focus>

Have the lakes actually been searched? One of the witnesses Snr Ballarin has mentioned the lakes are "quite deep and not transparent at all in a lot of parts" so an overhead check by drone/helicopter might not be enough. Appreciate they might be frozen by now though.

Perhaps they prioritised trying to find ED alive. They only had a limited time period before the weather got worse, so searching the lakes would have wasted valuable time and resources.

 

[talby66]

You've got to be kidding, on the same day that Estheranddan have a new media advisory group they issue a statement to the daily fail: "But Matt Searle, spokesman for Esther’s family and Mr Colgate, told MailOnline: ‘Daniel and Esther’s family are extremely interested to find out who was inside the camper with the lights on." which is immediately countered by the very same media advisory group "Police have confirmed that the light seen in the campervan was due to their presence."

Day by day I feel this is getting rather like a very well known portuguese case!

 

[Kaykedi]

Well, as far as I can see, the pulled “quote” from Sr Ballarin says he gave her a lift on the 21st.

Mystery Hiker’s lift was supposedly 19th, according to other reports/social media.

Anything is possible, IMO, when reading or relying on UK redtop reporting. They’re not particularly well known for accuracy... .

Agreed! I'm going to sound like a raging ageist now, but, if Sr Ballarin is the mystery hiker who gave Esther a lift, and, no other male

You've got to be kidding, on the same day that Estheranddan have a new media advisory group they issue a statement to the daily fail: "But Matt Searle, spokesman for Esther’s family and Mr Colgate, told MailOnline: ‘Daniel and Esther’s family are extremely interested to find out who was inside the camper with the lights on." which is immediately countered by the very same media advisory group "Police have confirmed that the light seen in the campervan was due to their presence."

Day by day I feel this is getting rather like a very well known portuguese case!

What on earth?!

 

[PeggyHenry]

I was out walking my dogs tonight - it was pitch black and quiet along the lane. Although there were houses and it wasn’t very remote.. I started to imagine being alone, hiking out there in the mountains, especially when light begins to fade. I think you’d have to be a very brave and determined female to do that alone. It is not something I could even contemplate as I know I would feel horribly anxious and scared. My imagination would run riot.
Hats off to Esther and all the others who can do this... I’m envious really. They must get to experience wonderful things. But their courage is immense.

 

[Ruthbullock]

I was out walking my dogs tonight - it was pitch black and quiet along the lane. Although there were houses and it wasn’t very remote.. I started to imagine being alone, hiking out there in the mountains, especially when light begins to fade. I think you’d have to be a very brave and determined female to do that alone. It is not something I could even contemplate as I know I would feel horribly anxious and scared. My imagination would run riot.
Hats off to Esther and all the others who can do this... I’m envious really. They must get to experience wonderful things. But their courage is immense.

It’s not that, it’s the opposite

 

[Grouse]

Perhaps they prioritised trying to find ED alive. They only had a limited time period before the weather got worse, so searching the lakes would have wasted valuable time and resources.

Fair point - if she is in one of the lakes it's already too late, absolutely right to prioritise like that as you say.

 

[Grouse]

Agreed! I'm going to sound like a raging ageist now, but, if Sr Ballarin is the mystery hiker who gave Esther a lift, and, no other male

What on earth?!

Not sure what you are saying? Sr Ballarin (and his grandson) gave her a lift on 21st November and came forward to say so, mystery hiker was 19th November. If he'd also given her a lift on 19th they would have surely established that
as well.

Also, I have no idea what you are talking about when you mention about being ageist.

 

[Grouse]

You've got to be kidding, on the same day that Estheranddan have a new media advisory group they issue a statement to the daily fail: "But Matt Searle, spokesman for Esther’s family and Mr Colgate, told MailOnline: ‘Daniel and Esther’s family are extremely interested to find out who was inside the camper with the lights on." which is immediately countered by the very same media advisory group "Police have confirmed that the light seen in the campervan was due to their presence."

Day by day I feel this is getting rather like a very well known portuguese case!

The witness who took the photo was very clear that she saw someone asleep in the campervan. If that was police "presence" then it raises massive alarm bells about how this investigation is being conducted.

Edit: I won't be surprised if we see British police getting involved

 

[Ellmau]

Missing British hiker's life is 'not as idyllic as social media suggests', warn police | Metro News

The clip was released after French investigating officer Capitaine Bordinaro said the couple’s life was ‘not as idyllic as the images posted on social media suggest’. He told MailOnline: ‘We want to investigate all possibilities. We do not rule any line of inquiry. ‘But it does not seem probable that Esther suffered an accident, and it is not credible that she was eaten by a bear or that she has fallen into a lake.

‘We believe that her disappearance is either the result of a voluntary act, or as a result of someone else’s actions.’ Explaining how police went to interview Mr Colegate and go through his messages with him, Bordinaro said: ‘It appears that their lives together were not as happy as the images posted on social media suggest.’ However, the investigator stressed that the Oxford graduate, from Durham, was interviewed as a witness and not a suspect.

 

[Grouse]

I was out walking my dogs tonight - it was pitch black and quiet along the lane. Although there were houses and it wasn’t very remote.. I started to imagine being alone, hiking out there in the mountains, especially when light begins to fade. I think you’d have to be a very brave and determined female to do that alone. It is not something I could even contemplate as I know I would feel horribly anxious and scared. My imagination would run riot.
Hats off to Esther and all the others who can do this... I’m envious really. They must get to experience wonderful things. But their courage is immense.

To be honest statistically it's probably safer camped at the top of a remote mountain than it is on a pitch black lane at night in a populated area.

 

[Kaykedi]

Not sure what you are saying? Sr Ballarin (and his grandson) gave her a lift on 21st November and came forward to say so, mystery hiker was 19th November. If he'd also given her a lift on 19th they would have surely established that
as well.

Also, I have no idea what you are talking about when you mention about being ageist.

SORRY about any confusion caused by my unfinished post. I'd typed it in, but, decided not to finish, or, post it, (I thought I had deleted it). I was going to say I may appear to be a raging ageist by saying I didn't think a man of 70 would USUALLY abduct a female (IF anyone felt Esther may have been abducted). I didn't know that Mr Ballarin was with his grandson when he gave Esther a lift. Oh dear, think I should go back to bed, get up, and start the day again!