Found Deceased UK - Nicola Bulley Last Seen Walking Dog Near River - St Michaels on Wyre (Lancashire) #17

[Furore]

The chap on Sky News said that the body will be relatively well preserved due to the cold water.

Who was this? I am not an expert I but my understanding was that water quickly makes bodies quite difficult to identify eg soaks into tissues same way a bath makes fingertips puffy then of course any traction or injury from stones or debris, plus decomposition itself - all JMO! Was news person a pathologist? Genuine query!

 

[MsBetsy]

Can't the Police tell us the sex of the body that has been found?

The people who found the body said it was a woman.

 

[Haveyoufedthecat]

How long does it usually take to identify a body?

I would think a few days but I suspect LE will move pretty quickly on this. I presume of course that to protect them "if" it is Nicola then the family will not be allowed to see any remains. I hope to God that will be the case.

 

[annpats]

DNA most likely. They'll have taken her toothbrush during the initial visit to her home.

Would they?!?

Is this a thing?!?

 

[Erutan]

<modsnip - quoted post and response to it removed>

It'd be interesting to get someone's 'take' on that river, and how swift the current is -- from people who live near the area ?
If it's fairly deep near the shorline, I could envision (sadly !) Nicola falling in by accident and sucked under the water by a current ?
M00.

 

[ayrshireguy]

Who was this? I am not an expert I but my understanding was that water quickly makes bodies quite difficult to identify eg soaks into tissues same way a bath makes fingertips puffy then of course any traction or injury from stones or debris, plus decompensation itself - all JMO! Was news person a pathologist? Genuine query!

I believe he was the crime correspondent.

 

[Coachbuilder]

The people who found the body said it was a woman.

But why not the Police?

 

[pineapple23]

Might be the case that whoever first noticed the body was led by their nose. Reasonable to expect at this point. Just walking by on the river path and then it’s carried on the wind. Would be very aware of the ongoing search and situation so went for a proper look.

What even if it was in the water and had to be retrieved by divers?

 

[suzyjackson]

Who was this? I am not an expert I but my understanding was that water quickly makes bodies quite difficult to identify eg soaks into tissues same way a bath makes fingertips puffy then of course any traction or injury from stones or debris, plus decomposition itself - all JMO! Was news person a pathologist? Genuine query!

Martin Brunt, it being repeated every few minutes

 

[tedtink]

Will they use forensic (i.e dental records) for confirmation?

I'm sure not many family relatives will want to see their loved one after 3 weeks in a river. It's a hard thing to do.

Usually yes, dental or DNA.
Family will most likely be advised not to do formal ID IMO.

 

[Erutan]

Can't the Police tell us the sex of the body that has been found?

Someone posted a synopsis of bodies found in water from a different case.
Some graphic reading, but her clothing may be the first visual identification, and it's possible the gender may be difficult to ascertain ?
They'd want to do a dna test to be sure, of course.

 

[29 Acacia Road]

Would they?!?

Is this a thing?!?

I've read about it being done in US cases quite often, not sure how common it is here in the UK.

 

[Mr X]

The people who found the body said it was a woman.

I really don't think they can work this out from a floating corpse.

Easy enough to work out from news and social media reports though, to be fair.

 

[Furore]

I believe he was the crime correspondent.

Thank you

 

[Sweeper2000]

What even if it was in the water and had to be retrieved by divers?

After this amount of time the body will be full of gas and floating.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

What even if it was in the water and had to be retrieved by divers?

If the body was partially submerged but trapped in reeds and other undergrowth, you'd be able to see and smell it but IMO divers would still be needed to retrieve it.

 

[tedtink]

Who was this? I am not an expert I but my understanding was that water quickly makes bodies quite difficult to identify eg soaks into tissues same way a bath makes fingertips puffy then of course any traction or injury from stones or debris, plus decomposition itself - all JMO! Was news person a pathologist? Genuine query!

Agree.
Preserved may just mean intact, but still an horrific sight IMO.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I’ve noticed Nicola had quite distinctive teeth so I imagine dental identification will be straightforward.

I’d be very surprised if family are allowed to see her but you never know.

 

[mrjitty]

Some of the crime pundits who specialised in being on TV every day look very stupid now

I hope there is a genuine inquiry into all of this - it being the right time now she has been found.

 

[Furore]

What even if it was in the water and had to be retrieved by divers?

I believe you would want to be fully equipped and specialist to enter a river in February in which someone has drowned! From the photos being posted of the scene from news articles, it doesn’t look like you can get to the river from the bank easily as lots of vegetation so would need to enter water to carefully retrieve.

I don’t know if you’ve ever smelt something like a dead badger or deer in a hedgerow or road but it is a very potent odour, you would def smell it from the bank imo.