GUILTY UK - Helen Bailey, 51, Royston, 11 April 2016 #1

[Alyce]

Why would she take a train and not her car? I don't know the timetables, but I'm sure she'd have to go to London and change trains, and probably take a cab or two.

It's a fairly straightforward journey ( though maybe a bit cumbersome with Boris and luggage ).
Royston to Kings Cross is about 50 minutes, then a few minutes walk to St Pancras
train St P to Broadstairs is about 1 hour 20 mins
Walk from Broadstairs station to cottage is about 7 minutes ( or taxi, even quicker )

I would prefer to drive, especially with Boris and luggage, but perhaps if she was not feeling great, then she thought train would be easier, no need to concentrate on traffic etc.

 

[MillyM]

Are you thinking foul play?

She was said to have left a note but how would they determine that this note was a recent note and not one she wrote in the past that hadn't been discarded.

I am thinking: look closer to home. Either suicide or someone she knew. Have cadaver dogs been sent into her home, partner's car and Kent home yet?

There would be some CCTV sighting on rail station or elsewhere, or further physical sightings by now if she had gone somewhere. I think that side is a red herring.

 

[ravenette]

I am thinking: look closer to home. Either suicide or someone she knew. Have cadaver dogs been sent into her home, partner's car and Kent home yet?

My first thoughts when Helen went missing were that the circumstances around it were odd - that she was seen walking Boris near her home and then vanished into thin air while her partner was out on an errand. Did she return home after walking the dog and was her partner in then?

Regarding suicide, I have read that Helen was close to her parents and brother and I would have thought she would have at least left them a note if that was her intention and what about her beloved Boris? I do feel that she would have made sure he was taken care of and not harmed.

I realise that is not very likely Helen has gone into hiding or decided to start a new life, but if she has she would not take with her or use anything that could identify her whereabouts such as her car, phone, bank cards. If she had been planning this for sometime then this could explain the call asking about re-homing a dog a few weeks before.

As for the large sum of cash that she COULD have had access to from her home - well, either it's there or it isn't and I do wonder about the motives of whoever gave the police this info.

I do still hold out hope that Helen is safe somewhere and as time goes on I hope that we find out the truth soon and that this doesn't become a cold case.

 

[Alyce]

I am thinking: look closer to home. Either suicide or someone she knew. Have cadaver dogs been sent into her home, partner's car and Kent home yet?

There would be some CCTV sighting on rail station or elsewhere, or further physical sightings by now if she had gone somewhere. I think that side is a red herring.

Sniffer dogs went into her home in Royston - but I think they were only sniffers,not cadavers.

Completely agree re the CCTV and sightings.

I don't see a happy ending here, but would love to be proven wrong.

 

[Alyce]

I am thinking: look closer to home. Either suicide or someone she knew. Have cadaver dogs been sent into her home, partner's car and Kent home yet?

My first thoughts when Helen went missing were that the circumstances around it were odd - that she was seen walking Boris near her home and then vanished into thin air while her partner was out on an errand. Did she return home after walking the dog and was her partner in then?

Regarding suicide, I have read that Helen was close to her parents and brother and I would have thought she would have at least left them a note if that was her intention and what about her beloved Boris? I do feel that she would have made sure he was taken care of and not harmed.

I realise that is not very likely Helen has gone into hiding or decided to start a new life, but if she has she would not take with her or use anything that could identify her whereabouts such as her car, phone, bank cards. If she had been planning this for sometime then this could explain the call asking about re-homing a dog a few weeks before.

As for the large sum of cash that she COULD have had access to from her home - well, either it's there or it isn't and I do wonder about the motives of whoever gave the police this info.

I do still hold out hope that Helen is safe somewhere and as time goes on I hope that we find out the truth soon and that this doesn't become a cold case.

If Helen really had been going to the cottage ( or anywhere else ), as per the note, then I would have expected her to go home, after walking Boris, to collect her handbag ( which is missing ) and at least some luggage, even if only a small case.
Re the cash - I also wonder how accurate that info is.

 

[mrazda71]

Has been released as fact that Helen contacted a rescue about giving up a dog? Or is that a presumption?

 

[ravenette]

Has been released as fact that Helen contacted a rescue about giving up a dog? Or is that a presumption?

No, it hasn't been released as fact, I am involved in dog rescue (I first became aware of Helen through Doglost) A friend who is involved with the rescue told me that Helen had called enquiring generally about re-homing a dog. But of course this is second hand, pure speculation.

 

[Plumeria5]

No, it hasn't been released as fact, I am involved in dog rescue (I first became aware of Helen through Doglost) A friend who is involved with the rescue told me that Helen had called enquiring generally about re-homing a dog. But of course this is second hand, pure speculation.

Could it be that someone posed as Helen inquiring about re-homing a dog?

 

[pinklilies]

No, it hasn't been released as fact, I am involved in dog rescue (I first became aware of Helen through Doglost) A friend who is involved with the rescue told me that Helen had called enquiring generally about re-homing a dog. But of course this is second hand, pure speculation.

I know you write this is second hand info but did HB give her name when making this enquiry?
I'm just wondering how the lady knew it was HB calling and if the person said what the reason was for needing to have a dog re-homed.

 

[Alyce]

I know you write this is second hand info but did HB give her name when making this enquiry?
I'm just wondering how the lady knew it was HB calling and if the person said what the reason was for needing to have a dog re-homed.

Many years ago, I had to phone a rescue centre, re a re homing ( fortunately it didnt happen ). I do remember however that the lady I spoke with took loads of details from me, name, address - and had a long chat re the reasons for the rehoming etc............ having said that, I suppose anyone could phone and * pretend* to be someone else.

 

[Tortoise]

Just making some assumptions here but Helen might have enquired about re-homing her dog at a time when she was worried about her partner's health prognosis, thinking that she wouldn't be able to carry on if she lost him. The fact that they celebrated his recovery shortly before she disappeared could have put those thoughts out of her mind, so it may just be another red herring. If that makes sense.

 

[Alyce]

Just making some assumptions here but Helen might have enquired about re-homing her dog at a time when she was worried about her partner's health prognosis, thinking that she wouldn't be able to carry on if she lost him. The fact that they celebrated his recovery shortly before she disappeared could have put those thoughts out of her mind, so it may just be another red herring. If that makes sense.

Makes a lot of sense Tortoise. I seem to remember that the call was, apparently, made several weeks before Helen disappeared, so that fits exactly with your thoughts.

 

[ravenette]

I know you write this is second hand info but did HB give her name when making this enquiry?
I'm just wondering how the lady knew it was HB calling and if the person said what the reason was for needing to have a dog re-homed.

The rescue's number was on the list of calls Helen made in the weeks before she disappeared - this info was released by the police. My friend was told that Helen had called asking about re - homing a dog, but wasn't given any more details. Indeed, the woman that runs the rescue put a post on the fb page asking if anyone local had taken Boris in, this was removed and I don't know why. I would have thought that reaching out to the local dog walking community may have been helpful and I'm sure the police have done this.

So, I guess a certain amount of planning went into the disappearance of Helen and Boris. I do wonder if Helen's partner and his son's were fond of the dog? I keep going back to the house and the way Helen seemingly vanished, I don't know what, but, there is something there that I can't quite put my finger on.

 

[wfgodot]

Alive or dead then, all? What say?

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Alive or dead then, all? What say?

Don't mince your words, wfg!

Hope she's alive, but on this little island it's kinda hard to go AWOL for any length of time. Not impossible, but.....

 

[ravenette]

Helens brother John has made a direct appeal [video=youtube;ye6tenWcKm4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ye6tenWcKm4&app=desktop[/video] Also, a walk is planned on Royston Heath next Sunday to raise awareness for Helen and Boris.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

No, it hasn't been released as fact, I am involved in dog rescue (I first became aware of Helen through Doglost) A friend who is involved with the rescue told me that Helen had called enquiring generally about re-homing a dog. But of course this is second hand, pure speculation.

Did your friend say whether they would have been able to offer Boris a rescue place to be rehomed? I know that rescues for all sorts of pets have been bursting at the seams for a number of years, especially since the last recession as so many people have been forced to move into rental accommodation which does not accept pets.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Hope she's alive, but on this little island it's kinda hard to go AWOL for any length of time. Not impossible, but.....

On the contrary, I'm astonished by the number of people who do go missing and are never found or aren't found for decades.

 

[ravenette]

Did your friend say whether they would have been able to offer Boris a rescue place to be rehomed? I know that rescues for all sorts of pets have been bursting at the seams for a number of years, especially since the last recession as so many people have been forced to move into rental accommodation which does not accept pets.

No, she wasn't given any details, only told that Helen had called and asked about re - homing a dog. Yes, rescues are all overflowing sadly. Maybe Helen contacted other rescues and if not by phone it is easy to do online.

In response to your other post - I too am amazed at the amount of people that go missing each year, even if some of these people are traced the families aren't told if the person doesn't want them to be. The Salvation Army missing persons database alone is huge.

 

[Alyce]

A bit more local news re the dog walk this Sunday

Interesting that the police have been searching near the Tesco Extra store..... there is a bus station there


http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/news/...elen_bailey_and_dog_boris_on_sunday_1_4541260