UK UK - Claudia Lawrence, 35, York University, 18 March 2009 - Chef - #1

[Robin Hood]

Very interesting article. I wonder how they know the smoker was left handed. I am right handed but always smoked with my left (mainly because at the time I was a student and usually writing with my right hand). Wonder if RC was left handed or a smoker? Great that they have that DNA... now to match it!

I think this 'left handed smoker' could be a right handed person just as easy as a left hander. I smoke with my left but I am right handed, as Ajc says folk who type on PC's or write usually use their left hand as their right is occupied.

It's possible we have two things playing out at the same time. The sightings on the route could very well be Claudia with a younger male but the visit out at 3.05pm may have been to somebody else, either of which may have discovered the existence of the other.
The bag seen on the area around Walmgate Stray is very close to the allotments, I wonder if Claudia and her abductor exited that way, dropping the bag on route. It does seem odd a bag was seen there and Claudia has one missing bag. Highly likely taken by somebody not connected but kept due to the seriousness of taking evidence.
Does anybody local know if the Police looked at the allotments?

 

[leep]

The 2 sightings from early in the morning "the left handed smoker" at approx 5.35am and the "couple arguing" near the university, as far as I am aware nobody has ever come forward to say that it was themselves. There is a strong possibility that one or both of these sightings were Claudia. The 5.35 sighting would be the perfect time for her to be in that place if she was walking to work for a 6oc start, also the description of the woman would fit Claudia's description. Would a local know if there was anywhere close by to the alleged 5.35 sighting (Melrosegate bridge) for a car to be parked ?

I have always believed the sightings were CL far to much of a coincidence for it not be.


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[ellie b]

I have always believed the sightings were CL far to much of a coincidence for it not be.


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I think so too leep, someone she knew picked her up en route, IF that was Claudia arguing near the uni, what happened?....did she get back in the car, probably.....which infers, to me, it was someone she knew well. MOO

 

[ellie b]

I think this 'left handed smoker' could be a right handed person just as easy as a left hander. I smoke with my left but I am right handed, as Ajc says folk who type on PC's or write usually use their left hand as their right is occupied.

It's possible we have two things playing out at the same time. The sightings on the route could very well be Claudia with a younger male but the visit out at 3.05pm may have been to somebody else, either of which may have discovered the existence of the other.
The bag seen on the area around Walmgate Stray is very close to the allotments, I wonder if Claudia and her abductor exited that way, dropping the bag on route. It does seem odd a bag was seen there and Claudia has one missing bag. Highly likely taken by somebody not connected but kept due to the seriousness of taking evidence.
Does anybody local know if the Police looked at the allotments?

Yes, Robin H, I agree that the smoker could just as easily be right or left handed, I'm a smoker (right handed) but actually smoke with my left hand just as much as my right.

The sighting of the bag was notable if it was reliable, I too thought that it may have been taken by someone who subsequently was too ashamed to hand it in. Again, it seems like too much of a coincidence if it was a reliable sighting. Same type of bag, in the grounds of Claudia's workplace on the day she went missing. I believe that it was spotted at about 1pm, I find it hard to believe that it had been there for 6-7 hours without anyone else spotting it though......could it have been put there?

 

[Robin Hood]

Yes, Robin H, I agree that the smoker could just as easily be right or left handed, I'm a smoker (right handed) but actually smoke with my left hand just as much as my right.

The sighting of the bag was notable if it was reliable, I too thought that it may have been taken by someone who subsequently was too ashamed to hand it in. Again, it seems like too much of a coincidence if it was a reliable sighting. Same type of bag, in the grounds of Claudia's workplace on the day she went missing. I believe that it was spotted at about 1pm, I find it hard to believe that it had been there for 6-7 hours without anyone else spotting it though......could it have been put there?

Yes, it could have also been a decoy.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

A 2009 interview with Claudia's ex boyfriend
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-chef-claudia-lawrences-only-419727


2014 article about search of the Acomb pub last summer. Mentions 46 year old arrested, was that the pub landlord?
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/113...earch___locals_tell_of_shock___1_10pm_UPDATE/

 

[ellie b]

Yes, it could have also been a decoy.

I'm assuming the police did a wide search of the area where the bag was seen.....anyone know ?

 

[ellie b]

A 2009 interview with Claudia's ex boyfriend
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/missing-chef-claudia-lawrences-only-419727


2014 article about search of the Acomb pub last summer. Mentions 46 year old arrested, was that the pub landlord?
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/113...earch___locals_tell_of_shock___1_10pm_UPDATE/

Not impressed with that article in the mirror.....that's why I don't buy newspapers or take much stock in what most of them say.

 

[ellie b]

I'm assuming the police did a wide search of the area where the bag was seen.....anyone know ?

It looks like the sighting of the couple arguing and the bag are pretty close in proximity.

 

[Robin Hood]

I'm assuming the police did a wide search of the area where the bag was seen.....anyone know ?

It looks like the sighting of the couple arguing and the bag are pretty close in proximity.

That's one of the things I wanted to know, the allotments are pretty close to the bag sighting. Did they check to see if any of the key players had an allotment or did voluntary building work on the allotment shop/buildings. Somebody supplied veg to the Nags Head, they claim to use local suppliers.

 

[Clio]

<rsbm> Mentions 46 year old arrested, was that the pub landlord?

The landlord of the Acomb was arrested and bailed in July last year on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. AFAIK he remains on bail

 

[Alyce]

I think the Police might have mentioned activity on her account and said we know she visited the cash machine at 3pm. I also think it's possible she didn't have funds as her mother/father offered her the money for a taxi to work. But it's just my opinion. IF she went to call on somebody and they were out maybe she went again after the call to her mother.

Yes, that is a possibility. And, if it was someone nearby, then she would probably just take her door key and mobile and nothing else.

So, if whatever happened, happened when she went to see this other person, then possibly this person took Claudia's door key, went back to the house to check there was nothing there that would incriminate him or her ........ and at the same time, took away the rucksack so that it would appear CL had gone to work on the Thursday.
Based on CLs early start the following day, it is quite possible she prepacked the rucksack and left it by the door, ready for the morning.

 

[Alyce]

Yes, Robin H, I agree that the smoker could just as easily be right or left handed, I'm a smoker (right handed) but actually smoke with my left hand just as much as my right.

The sighting of the bag was notable if it was reliable, I too thought that it may have been taken by someone who subsequently was too ashamed to hand it in. Again, it seems like too much of a coincidence if it was a reliable sighting. Same type of bag, in the grounds of Claudia's workplace on the day she went missing. I believe that it was spotted at about 1pm, I find it hard to believe that it had been there for 6-7 hours without anyone else spotting it though......could it have been put there?

Yes, a good possibility - left around lunchtime perhaps ? knowing that it should be spotted quickly at that time - and in an attempt to pretend that Claudia actually reached the University area that morning and mis direct the investigation.

 

[ellie b]

I'm assuming the police did a wide search of the area where the bag was seen.....anyone know ?



That's one of the things I wanted to know, the allotments are pretty close to the bag sighting. Did they check to see if any of the key players had an allotment or did voluntary building work on the allotment shop/buildings. Somebody supplied veg to the Nags Head, they claim to use local suppliers.

So.........
Couple seen arguing on university road at approx 6.05am.
Claudia's phone stays connected to East York mast until 12.10pm when it is switched off/battery runs out.
Bag similar to Claudia's allegedly seen at 1pm close to university rd and Claudia's workplace.

Hmm...could she have been hidden in that area?...is there any areas of undergrowth, bushes, scrubland and trees around there?....and the allotments that you mentioned Robin. The police must have searched that area surely..? Off course it would have been getting light at about 6am, would it have been possible to hide a body without being spotted ?

 

[Robin Hood]

I haven't checked if it was light at 6am or not, it might be worth checking when the clocks changed. Those allotments are quite big, I don't want to name them here but if you look up the name on Google maps they have a website. I'll bet most were being prepared for the spring planting.
The allotments are next to the cemetery. I had a quick look at the photos on there for any familiar faces but they don't seem to cover the period Claudia went missing. There's requests for help with building work etc too.

Could you hide a body without being spotted? Maybe, if you stored it in a shed and went back when it was dark and moved it. Also the sighting of the bag wouldn't be reported probably until the next day or two, if nobody knew to look there nobody would be suspicious.

 

[Robin Hood]

As far as searching goes, remember Tia Sharp? That was 2013, lessons learnt since then but Claudia was 2009.

http://news.sky.com/story/1090310/police-missed-tia-sharps-body-twice-in-loft

''Detectives had already carried out two searches in the upstairs of Christine Sharp's house, before the 12-year-old was finally found on the third attempt''

 

[ellie b]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Claudia_Lawrence
On wikipedia it states that police made searches in the Heslington area in March 2010....

"On 24 March 2010, NYP began searching areas of Heslington in York, based on new information received "in the last few days".[24] On 24 March, land near to a children's play area, near a muddy farm track, was searched, and on 25 March the search was relocated to a field near to the university, an area of land which is bordered by a playing field and student accommodation.[25] It was later stated that NYP had not found any new leads from these searches and nothing of significance had been discovered.[26]"

Not sure how extensive this search was.

 

[Robin Hood]

http://www.nouse.co.uk/2010/03/24/u...rched-again-as-part-of-claudia-investigation/

Police were today searching Heslington village, in connection to the disappearance of University of York chef, Claudia Lawrence

Ten officers and three police dogs were involved in today&#8217;s search of the University and a part of Heslington village known as The Outgang.

Edited to add- doesn't look like it's near the allotments.

 

[ellie b]

http://www.nouse.co.uk/2010/03/24/u...rched-again-as-part-of-claudia-investigation/

Police were today searching Heslington village, in connection to the disappearance of University of York chef, Claudia Lawrence

Ten officers and three police dogs were involved in today&#8217;s search of the University and a part of Heslington village known as The Outgang.

Edited to add- doesn't look like it's near the allotments.

So it doesn't look like they ever searched that area to the west of the uni, i.e. The allotments, grounds of The Retreat or Walmgate stray...

 

[Robin Hood]

So it doesn't look like they ever searched that area to the west of the uni, i.e. The allotments, grounds of The Retreat or Walmgate stray...

I don't think so, maybe a local knows more than me.