Found Deceased UK - Nicola Bulley, 45, last seen walking her dog on footpath by the river, Inskip, Lancashire, 27 Jan 2023

[cuecard]

Absolutely fair point.

It's also pretty cold here in the UK at the moment so the water will be freezing.

 

[in2thegate]

I dont know whether i can say this or not, but i do wonder as well, whether another dog walker was involved. Possibly with with a viscous dog off lead whos owner thought it was a safe spot, out of the way when they thought it could get some exercise ? Maybe the other dog snapped and had a go at the other dog ?

 

[Firstsnow4]

Interesting. A call with who? Did she work around there?

If you know the walk, the only bench I can find seems to be behind a fence where she or anyone else walking that trail doesn't appear (from the data) to go. There doesn't seem to be any benches, at least on Google maps, <modsnip - no source link for information posted as fact>

There are some pictures here that show a bench pretty close to the river bank with a missing poster on the tree behind

https://twitter.com/x/status/1620066302646964229

I wonder how open it is in this area - could someone have been hiding in wait. JMO.

 

[cuecard]

They are also asking for dashcam footage etc. Which makes me think that they think there's a chance she could have ran off. As bizarre as that seems.

They have to cover all bases, which is the right thing to do. The police seem to think this is not a crime per se.

 

[JuicyLucy]

They are also asking for dashcam footage etc. Which makes me think that they think there's a chance she could have ran off. As bizarre as that seems.

Or want to see if someone else - perhaps a particular someone else? - was in the area at the same time?

 

[Firstsnow4]

Or want to see if someone else - perhaps a particular someone else? - was in the area at the same time?

Yes I was suspecting they may want to see if a certain car/person was in the area at the time. Or if she was seen again after the last sighting. JMO.

 

[heartandsoul]

If she was on a conference call, that does change things for me. It seems possible she was sat on a bench, on the call, and something pulled her away - most likely the dog. That would explain the police being so confident of there not being a crime involved.

 

[in2thegate]

I lean towards foul play too unfortunately. I don't think she went in after her dog and it seems unlikely she just fell in.

Being a dog owner myself as well, you never voluntarily leave your dog - a dog that is clearly loved and well walked. Either foul play or a serious fatal accident. I hope neither but that gut instinct.

 

[cuecard]

If she was on a conference call, that does change things for me. It seems possible she was sat on a bench, on the call, and something pulled her away - most likely the dog. That would explain the police being so confident of there not being a crime involved.

Yeah, I agree with this. Seems most logical in this scenario given the police's comments.

 

[Smccat]

Phone Found

https://e.lancs.live/interface/exte...wFnPiW-w5HQumR6-JBZzohV3bC-PjJs2M9S-UHeR4ZGyc

 

[Snoopster]

Hello - I am new to Websleuths. Great forum. I was reading about Nicola Bulley in the wee small hours. There is something really unusual about the way this case is being reported - “Several lines of enquiry“ being followed by police. Makes me wonder if there is something not being reported yet - maybe an infatuated, stalking ex or something. I doubt this lady has decided to walk away from her own life - she would not have taken her dog.I hope she is found safe and well, and soon. My thoughts with family and friends.

Welcome to Websleuths!

 

[Snoopster]

Her phone was found whilst still on a conference call though, bit unusual to pick up a phone which is on a call mode and not speak to someone on the other end.

I'm local. While the river can swell and break banks in the area Nicola has gone missing, it's at times of very high rain fall and high tides. Tide was low at the time she went missing (low tide at Fleetwood where the River Wyre meets Irish Sea was 09:30) and rainfall has been generally low. The river at St Michael's is relatively narrow, and the land is fairly flat, considering the time spent with experts searching the river and surrounding area... There's a bad feeling locally that it's something quite sinister and not a slip/ fall into the river accident.

This is very helpful!

And welcome to Websleuths!

 

[dotr]

Maybe NB got fed up on the conference call, fed up with everything, knew the dog would be safely found and simply walked away from it all? speculation, imo.

Eta, maybe a search around churches or similar places where one can think and escape life for awhile..

 

[Amonet]

'Jan 30, 2023
'We do believe the likelihood is Nicola has gone missing, this is not a crime inquiry.' Metropolitan police officer gives an update on the missing dog walker in Lancashire.'

I don't know much about dog behaviour, but she said the dog was found around the same area of the water and bench. Wouldn't the dog have more likely tried to follow Nicola if she'd left the area, either alone or with someone? It suggests to me that the dog was waiting for Nicola to just reappear in the same place it last saw her?

 

[Telltale]

I don't know much about dog behaviour, but she said the dog was found around the same area of the water and bench. Wouldn't the dog have more likely tried to follow Nicola if she'd left the area, either alone or with someone? It suggests to me that the dog was waiting for Nicola to just reappear in the same place it last saw her?

You raise a good point. But the dog was found on the road to my recollection. The road pretty far up stream to where (I think) that bench is.so the dog may have well followed her. Or followed a car with her in it.

 

[in2thegate]

I don't know much about dog behaviour, but she said the dog was found around the same area of the water and bench. Wouldn't the dog have more likely tried to follow Nicola if she'd left the area, either alone or with someone? It suggests to me that the dog was waiting for Nicola to just reappear in the same place it last saw

Some of my closest friends are dog trainers, the spaniel (ive got 2 myself so i know what they are like) are most likely to follow you and wander off in a panic if you suddenly left. Spaniels can run for miles and miles but they ALWAYS have there eyes on you and know where you are

 

[Amonet]

If she was on a conference call, that does change things for me. It seems possible she was sat on a bench, on the call, and something pulled her away - most likely the dog. That would explain the police being so confident of there not being a crime involved.

I was thinking if she was on the phone to a single individual having a chat, then she'd say something before abandoning the call. But if it was a conference call, then I think there's a chance other people on the line were talking and instead of interrupting that she just put the phone down and possibly ran after her dog if she thought it was in trouble and time was of the essence.

 

[Firstsnow4]

You raise a good point. But the dog was found on the road to my recollection. The road pretty far up stream to where (I think) that bench is.so the dog may have well followed her. Or followed a car with her in it.

According to the press conference the dog was found loose and some distance away. This was in response to Amonet - sorry.

 

[PIShaz]

Welcome to Websleuths!

Thank you!

 

[Telltale]

Also, in that police conference. Did anyone find it a bit weird the Supt sidestepped the car question.

She was asked if NB had/could be driving a car of any description or something similar and the Supt sort of just closed her mouth for a moment and then said NB was last seen on foot.

Not - Her car is at home, she doesn't have access to a car, she doesn't drive, the car is yet to be located but looks like X, the car was found in a nearby parking lot, we are interested in this car seen in the area etc etc.

She just sort of... Dodged it without giving any useful information. Found that kind of interesting.

Eh, I'm going to put a small coin on Full Agatha Christie and hope I'm right - as that means everyone is okay, at least below the head.<modsnip - not victim friendly>