UK UK - Claudia Lawrence, 35, York University, 18 March 2009 - Chef - #2

[Yozzer]

I

Interesting...ie family loyalty sort of thing?

Was thinking DR was there (in the N/Head) because of his family links only, which is why he was so vocal in proclaiming his innocence about his arrest, in the Press. Unlike others who kept their heads down, AC and SR being the most low key.

 

[Pinkizzy]

Was thinking DR was there (in the N/Head) because of his family links only, which is why he was so vocal in proclaiming his innocence about his arrest, in the Press. Unlike others who kept their heads down, AC and SR being the most low key.

He claimed that someone took what he said out of context

 

[Yozzer]

He claimed that someone took what he said out of context

Stitch up perhaps?

 

[MajorLang]

Or did he even say anything. They sound like a bunch of evil Barstewards.

 

[MajorLang]

A new law named after missing chef Claudia Lawrence is to finally come into effect to help the families of those who have disappeared.

'Claudia's law' creates a legal status of guardian of the affairs of a loved one missing for 90 days or more.

The legislation, in memory of the 35-year-old, who went missing in York in 2009, will come into effect on 31 July, the government has confirmed.

Father Peter Lawrence said it would be a great help to thousands of families.

'Claudia's law' to finally come into force

Whilst this is a great law for Parents and Guardians. Surely 90 Days is far to short a period of time. I fully appreciate that 10 Years is a long period and no one should have to wait this long. 12 months would be a better timeframe. This is going to encourage and open up life insurance frauds

 

[moonsafari]

I have put together a timeline with a bit more information and also to miss out any of the "Red Herrings" (unintentional of course) Examples being of where an appeal has been made for a sighting but then ruled out by police or even a suspect or suspects ruled out.

It is some of these that have frustrated me and i am sure others when trying to make sense of what could have happened.

I Start prior to CL disappearance:

Tuesday March 10th or Friday March 13th 2010

2 men seen at her door-One has a sandy Mac and one is an Asian gentleman, younger-Could he be man in Hoody referred to later, a younger dress style

(Does anyone know what time??)

During same week as above:

14:30

Man with Sandy coloured Mac seen on phone, he has a backpack and approaching her house, CL comes to door, she is also on phone and is surprised to see him and lets him in. Before doing so she looks up and down the road?? Day is unknown but it was at a time that she would normally be at work and so this suggests it was her day off or she was on a different shift.

(Had police checked her work rota to establish day off and so establish day or do we know of day of week??)

Saturday 14th March

Racing day and many including CL at Nags head-CL stayed all day. Did she meet someone new here on that day. Betting shop across road from Nags Head-Are there any connections here?

This was last time CL was seen at Nags Head.

Tuesday March 18th 2010

05:57

CCTV verifies that CL arrives at work

During her shift she tells a work colleague that she has been out all night drinking in the city centre until 4 am and just got back home at 5am.

She advised colleague that she had been out with a new boyfriend.

Police have appealed to hear from new boyfriend but no one has come forward.

If she returned home then, that would have given her 34 minutes to get to work (A walk from home to Work is 1.7 miles and takes 34 minutes) This would entail her setting off at 05:23 to arrive at 05:57.

Hardly time for her to do much more than brush her teeth and grab her bag.

If she didn't return home, someone may have given her a lift to work or she ay have walked from a different direction?

14:31 pm

CL leaves work-Verified by CCTV cameras.

On her walk home she is seen at parade of shops / post box near 204 Melrosegate-She is seen talking on her phone to someone as she stops to post a letter in the post box-Verified by CCTV cameras. This location is the half way point between work and home.

Later her mother mentions that they had a call during the time frame of approx. 14:05 to 14:40 pm.

14:48

It was a walk to the post office of 0.8 miles from work and would take 17 minutes and so she would arrive to post letter at approx 14.48.

If her Mother was accurate with her time of conversation, she was probably talking to someone else as seen when posting the letter-who?

14:51

CL was spotted walking home and given a lift by a female work colleague, Jo.
This would have to be after posting the letter and by car the time to cover the remaining distance of 0.9 miles would be Approx. 3-4 minutes.
Jo dropped her off outside her home, again at Approx 14:51 (Based upon above time and distance assumptions).

14:51 to 15:05

CL then goes back out at an unreported time and Returns home at a reported time of 15:05 when seen by childminder, Linda Chapman with child in pram at this time. CL was returning back home and they exchanged pleasantries as she passed by the Nags Head, her local pub.

No one knows where she went for such a short period of time (10 minutes maximum). What is known as whilst she would have had time to visit the parade of shops at Heworth Village nearby, she was not picked up on CCTV camera there. However given that she may have visited and met someone (possibly to arrange something)

She could only have walked 3-4 minutes away from her home-Who did she know who lived within or worked within this radius...???

20:10

Call with her Father, followed by a call with her Mother. Whilst she had TV on in background and her Mother quotes that they were watching the same programme during call.

CL could have been at home or in someone else's house??

20:23

Outgoing text from CL to her friend Jen King-In it Jen advises that CL describes how busy she will be for next few weeks due to 12 early shifts and wont have much of a social life.

No one can be sure that CL sent the text and it could have been sent by anyone trying to throw Jen off the scent-Possibly whoever abducted her??

21:02

White Astra van seen parked for at least 30 minutes outside of Dave (Lead staff member at Nags Head) and Tinas house just along from Nags Head and on opposite side of road. If it was his car or a visitor he would have declared this and so unlikely.

21:12

Incoming text message from Male friend in Cyprus. CL never replies.




Wednesday 19th March 2010

05:25

A light coloured Ford car was seen braking on opposite side of road of CL house as it approaches her house-Did they stop to give a lift or were they just checking iff she was at home?? Was this someone who normally and innocently gave her a lift?

05:32

A different silver coloured car seen heading away from University at 05:32-Caught on camera at same pint where CL posted letter the previous day-Moving with headlights on.


This same silver car was seen again around the same time a week later on 25th March-Both Days being Wednesdays. Was this a shift worker heading for their 06:00 shift and on way to City Centre or a Shift worker finishing their shift. Were they a part time worker as Wednesday was the constant day? CCTV shows a still shot.

05:35

Someone resembling CL and a male in combat trousers and a hoody, Left handed smoker seen both talking outside of Electricity Sub Station on Melrosegate Bridge. This would appear to be accurate because at that time it would then take her another 21 minutes to cover by foot the next 1.1 miles to work.

If CL had walked to work that day, why was she not picked up by the same CCTV camera that picked her up posting the letter the afternoon before?



This suggests that she did NOT walk to work on this day??


06:00


CL does not report for work as is normal.



06:05


Again a couple but this time seen arguing on bank of grass on University Road. Maroon hatch back car is on opposite side of road and passenger door is open. Whilst CL would now be late for work. The location is the point that someone giving her a lift to work would drop her off so that she could walk the remaining distance to work using the University footpaths that start here.

Description of person in Hoody appears to be very similar as person seen talking to her at 5:35 that same morning?

06:45 to 06:55

Someone then seen outside CL house. Sandy Mac again ??

10:00

CL Manager calls her mobile and leaves a message

12:10

Phone powers down-A explicit power down meaning phone was actually turned off by someone rather than it running out of battery, being submerged or smashed-I don’t know i this is the case. Perhaps a Techy can comment on this?

That evening

CL does not turn up for a Pre-Arranged evening with Suzy Cooper. Suzy sends her a text and gets no reply.

Thursday 20th March 2010

SuzyCooper is concerned and rings CL’s Father, Peter. He calls CL workplace and when they advise she did not report for work on 19th he goes with Suzy to check CL house at 46 and no one there.

14:00

Peter Lawrence reports CL missing to Police.


Following a police investigation and a police review that includes the setting up of a new squad and a new senior officer being appointed.
A period of 5 years passes and many suspects are interviewed and released and thousands of statements along with many searches have taken place.


2015


20th April 2015

4 men arrested, their houses searched and released on bail-They all knew Claudia:

Alistair Cooper (59) Was he Suzy Coopers Brother? Allegedly also sighted wearing Tan Mid Length Jacket-Sandy Mac?

His son worked as a bar man at Nags Head when not at University, during breaks.

Peter Ruane (55) Builders and Car Repair business in Malton.
Was he and is he still in relationship with Jen King?

Shane Ruane (52) Brother to Pete Ruane.

David Robinson (52)-Window Installation Business?
Stated that he was taken out of context when Police interviewed him about a report that he had said he killed CL.

CPS are asked to review case and advise on strength of evidence


In no way am I suggesting any guilt here. I am just trying to link together who was arrested and who they were in close relationships with.

2016

8th March 2016

CPS decide that there is insufficient evidence to charge any of the 4 men.

Police understandably have a very frustrating period as of course they want to solve the case and quote that due to friends and acquaintances being economic with the truth or silent, they are unable to progress things further.

Some notes about Claudia Lawrence

A hard working person with a wide circle of friends as well as a smaller close group of people. Much of her socialising but not all, is centred around the Nags Head public house.

What we have learnt so far is that she does not spend every night there and varies between nights out in York City centre, with Jen and Suzy. More of a girly night out.

The Complex and complicated life that she is labelled with with, probably comes from perhaps one or two relationships that she had with married men. We have heard though that the marriage was already “on the rocks” and so CL was certainly not a marriage breaker.

There does appear to be a side of her that she didn’t want even her close male and female friends aware of and so she did meet some men at the Acomb, public house-Now the “Clocktower” Many people do this and it is a way of keeping your life private and away from unnecessary gossip. But was this to be her ultimate downfall?

The media appear too have been guilty of latching onto some gossip from a few and portray Claudia as a “Man eater” which is very unfair. However sensational journalism sells news papers and catches the TV viewers attention.

Missing Items

A backpack, likely to be containing:

Chef Whites for work

Curling Tongs

House keys?

There was a sighting of a backpack in the grounds of the university, just off footpath that she would have taken to work. Whilst it was reported, it was never found.

In summary

I have, in the short but concentrated time of looking at this case, changed my mind on what happened and could change it again based upon any updates or corrections from this forums members.

However, I reached a point where I became tired of reading out of date media and police reports that are still posted on the Wider Web.

It is forums like this one that have corrected many of the out dated communications and in doing so I am sure will help to find out what really happened to Claudia-I really hope that they do.

Given that Claudia stayed out all night on the evening / morning of 17th /18th with a “new boyfriend” I do not believe that she stayed at home on the evening of 18th.
The key reason that I have come to this conclusion is strangely enough, the missing hair tongs and her phone charger, suggesting an overnight stay somewhere else.

They were probably in her back pack and she took these with her spontaneously that night (18th) to wherever she was going. Perhaps a second or further date with the previous nights boyfriend?

It is stated many times that Claudia preferred the company of men older than herself but on this occasion I think the boyfriend was younger, possibly related to one of her close group of friends and hence the “Wall of silence” the police have been met with.

She had a pre-arranged meet with Suzy on the evening of 19th. She would have wanted to come home from work first, get ready and do the girly things like hair Etc. before going out.
Had she stayed in on the evening of 18th, the curling tongs would have been in her house, they were not.

Her phone

The Samsung model of Phone had a battery life of 2-3 days dependent upon usage. Claudia was a prolific texter and so 2 Days is a more realistic battery life for her.
She would not normally take the charger with her to work as she would use the phone less during this time.

However if she was planning to be away from home for longer she probably would take it with her-Where was the Phone Charger?

Her Keys

Keys would have allowed someone opportunity to enter her house and cover things up.

The Vehicles

CL had a Black Vauxhall Corsa that was being repaired before and during her dissapearance

18th March

The white Astra Van seen parked up in her road at 21:02

19th March

The Car that braked outside her house at 05:25-A light coloured Ford car.

A Silver car seen on same morning at 05:32 heading away from University in direction of CL house on road she normally walked along to work.

The Maroon hatchback with passenger door open near Uni where a couple were seen arguing at 6:05

Finally

It is highly likely that she stayed overnight on a second occasion, was given a lift to work when a row broke out.

The rest the police probably know more about but due to Wall of Silence cannot progress any further.

I do hope that in some way we can help them and her family…..

Just found this

looks like new info lane - Google Search

Why release it now? What does this mean/suggest? Does anyone recognise the car?

 

[moonsafari]

Sleuths-On 4th August 2009. A Property of Interest was searched by police at 61 East Parade, Heworth.
The two residents bought the house before 1995. There was no occupancy recorded on Electoral role as last known occupant was recorded in 2004 when 2 people lived there, I believe that they were brothers or a father and son (They both were male and had same surname)
One was in their late 50's early 60's. (Today he is over 65)
In 2014, one of previous 2 occupants that left in 2004 returned.

There appears to be a 10 Year Gap...???

Here is a screenshot of media photo showing search with a person answering the door.

One of Slueths may recognise him but as he may not be a POI I cannot name him on this site.

Take a look
@moonsafari Do you recognise them as a regular of Nags Head?

He looks vaguely familiar i'm not sure if from the pub or local area. Could be family member/friend of RC who previously lived there, inherited after RC death, moved back in? I haven't lived in York for a while now otherwise i'd have checked layout of alley etc and now the area at the end of HP in relation to NH carpark. No pics published until after the 2013 review. If only someone in York were participating in this thread and could send pics eh

 

[moonsafari]

He looks vaguely familiar i'm not sure if from the pub or local area. Could be family member/friend of RC who previously lived there, inherited after RC death, moved back in? I haven't lived in York for a while now otherwise i'd have checked layout of alley etc and now the area at the end of HP in relation to NH carpark. No pics published until after the 2013 review. If only someone in York were participating in this thread and could send pics eh

eerie scrapyard area too, and surrounding space

 

[MajorLang]

Just found this

looks like new info lane - Google Search

Why release it now? What does this mean/suggest? Does anyone recognise the car?

@moonsafari
I posted about this car last week-If she didn't walk to work not sure why they are appealing?

This was part of my post:

05:32


A different silver coloured car seen heading away from University at 05:32-Caught on camera at same pint where CL posted letter the previous day-Moving with headlights on.



This same silver car was seen again around the same time a week later on 25th March-Both Days being Wednesdays.

Was this a shift worker heading for their 06:00 shift and on way to City Centre or a Shift worker finishing their shift.

Were they a part time worker as Wednesday was the constant day? CCTV shows a still shot. Did that car go to CL house as it would have been picked up on Costcutter CCTV at the end of her road?

 

[MajorLang]

He looks vaguely familiar i'm not sure if from the pub or local area. Could be family member/friend of RC who previously lived there, inherited after RC death, moved back in? I haven't lived in York for a while now otherwise i'd have checked layout of alley etc and now the area at the end of HP in relation to NH carpark. No pics published until after the 2013 review. If only someone in York were participating in this thread and could send pics eh

RC had a relative who lived with him until 2004. House doesn't have new owners and so was this his relative moved back in?

 

[MajorLang]

eerie scrapyard area too, and surrounding space

@moonsafari Was the scrapyard also a car repair place-it is only accessible from Nags Car Park.
Do we know where she would have had her car repaired?

 

[MajorLang]

@

He looks vaguely familiar i'm not sure if from the pub or local area. Could be family member/friend of RC who previously lived there, inherited after RC death, moved back in? I haven't lived in York for a while now otherwise i'd have checked layout of alley etc and now the area at the end of HP in relation to NH carpark. No pics published until after the 2013 review. If only someone in York were participating in this thread and could send pics eh

@moonsafari Yes and they could check out some of distance and heights-There must be some Sleuths on here from York?

 

[MajorLang]

Car was ca

Just found this

looks like new info lane - Google Search

Why release it now? What does this mean/suggest? Does anyone recognise the car?

captured outside Meltosegate Post Office

 

[moonsafari]

@moonsafari Was the scrapyard also a car repair place-it is only accessible from Nags Car Park.
Do we know where she would have had her car repaired?

no idea somewhere nearby at a guess, no-one ever spoke of the eerie carpark and I assumed it was derelict. i wonder if in financial strife george/jim/both agreed to something illegal/unseemly relating to that space or b&b rooms and that's why they switched the cctv off. if claudia was seeing a policeman, did it ruffle feathers? whose? did someone suspect the man might be undercover if they were involved in something large scale? did they recognise him? did he enlist claudia's help or her his and she ended up losing her life for it? did someone mistakenly believe something along those lines and killed her? if yes, Nag's regular or someone else?

 

[moonsafari]

no idea somewhere nearby at a guess, no-one ever spoke of the eerie carpark and I assumed it was derelict. i wonder if in financial strife george/jim/both agreed to something illegal/unseemly relating to that space or b&b rooms and that's why they switched the cctv off. if claudia was seeing a policeman, did it ruffle feathers? whose? did someone suspect the man might be undercover if they were involved in something large scale? did they recognise him? did he enlist claudia's help or her his and she ended up losing her life for it? did someone mistakenly believe something along those lines and killed her? if yes, Nag's regular or someone else?

or a bent copper/s? NYP figured they had to cover it up either scenario, perhaps even police officers were involved in the same swinging scene as her?

 

[moonsafari]

or a bent copper/s? NYP figured they had to cover it up either scenario, perhaps even police officers were involved in the same swinging scene as her?

Perps could be mocking police w their blatantness or feel confident to do so because they're being protected for that reason

 

[Yozzer]

RC had a relative who lived with him until 2004. House doesn't have new owners and so was this his relative moved back in?

Or police detective who already had access to inside the property.

 

[Yozzer]

Just a couple of points:
CL's phone charger was at home, not in the missing rucksack:
Det Supt Malyn said: “Claudia used her mobile phone intensively so it is unlikely she would allow it to run out of battery. Also, her mobile phone charger was still in her house.
Claudias moile phone is switched off

Her Vauxhall Corsa was not black (but admittedly looks black in pics):
A DNA profile of a male has been established from a cigarette butt found in Claudia's 'green-blue' Vauxhall Corsa, which was being repaired at a local garage at the time she disappeared.
DNA profile

 

[Deleted member 102539]

@moonsafari Was the scrapyard also a car repair place-it is only accessible from Nags Car Park.
Do we know where she would have had her car repaired?

Claudia Lawrence: Mum horrified police failed to search nearby wasteland
But despite being less than 100 yards away, the garage and its various outbuildings were never searched.
-.-
It was always said, CL's car would have been "in a garage" for repair.
What happened to missing Uni of York chef Claudia Lawrence?
Her chef's uniform has never been found and her mobile phone was turned off around midday. She had been walking to work the week that she went missing as her car had been in the garage for repairs.

 

[MajorLang]

Claudia Lawrence: Mum horrified police failed to search nearby wasteland
But despite being less than 100 yards away, the garage and its various outbuildings were never searched.
-.-
It was always said, CL's car would have been "in a garage" for repair.
What happened to missing Uni of York chef Claudia Lawrence?
Her chef's uniform has never been found and her mobile phone was turned off around midday. She had been walking to work the week that she went missing as her car had been in the garage for repairs.

@FromGermany That first part regards her car is very useful