Missing Nicola Bulley: No evidence of criminal or third-party involvement
Lancashire Police have been giving a press conference
Last updated 15th Feb 2023
Lancashire Police have been updating the media on their investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley and have said there is no evidence of criminal or third-party involvement in her disappearance.
It's been 19 days since Nicola disappeared while walking her dog Willow in the village of St Michael's on Wyre (on Friday January 27).
She went missing after dropping her two daughters - aged six and nine - at school.
Here's the live stream of the police press conference:
Detectives have found no evidence of a "criminal aspect or third party involvement" in Nicola Bulley's disappearance during extensive inquiries over the 19 days since she vanished, a police chief has said.
Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson has defended his force's investigation into the case of the missing mother-of-two.
Setting out the details of the probe in more detail than police "normally" would, he said the scale has been "unprecedented".
Nearly 40 detectives have sifted through hundreds of hours of CCTV, dashcam footage and tip-offs from the public.
And Mr Lawson said: "There is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in Nicola's disappearance."
Detectives have sought to combat disinformation about her disappearance amid growing speculation about what might have happened to her and criticism of the police effort.
Ms Bulley disappeared while walking her springer spaniel, Willow, in the village of St Michael's on Wyre after she dropped her two daughters - aged six and nine - at school on January 27.
The force said her disappearance is not being treated as suspicious.
Her body has still not been found and detectives extended the search for her to the sea on February 3, saying finding her there "becomes more of a possibility".
Ms Bulley's friends and neighbours, including her next-door neighbour and friend Charlotte Drake, have continued to flock to a bridge over the Wyre to lay yellow ribbons with messages which say they still hope she will be found safe and well.
Malicious communications arrests
A 49-year-old man from Manchester and a 20-year-old woman from Oldham have been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences in relation to emails allegedly sent to Wyre Council members over the search in St Michael's.
The man has been bailed pending further inquiries until May 12 while the woman remains in custody.
On Monday, Wyre Council removed councillors' contact details from its website due to "inappropriate emails and phone calls" about Ms Bulley's disappearance.
It said it had temporarily removed contact details for "parish and town council members" after Lancashire Police confirmed its investigation.
The initial investigation into Nicola Bulley's disappearance
A timeline of Nicola Bulley's last known movements has been released by Lancashire Police:
8.43am: Ms Bulley walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school.
Around 8.50am: A dogwalker who knows Ms Bulley saw her walking around the lower field with her dog. Their two dogs interacted briefly before the witness left the field via the river path.
8.53am: Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss.
9.01am: She logged into a Teams call.
Around 9.10am: Somebody who knows Ms Bulley saw her on the upper field walking her dog, Willow. Lancashire Police say they are trying to establish exactly what time this was.
9.30am: The Teams call ended but Ms Bulley stayed logged on.
Around 9.35am: Her mobile phone and dog were found at a bench by the river by another dogwalker.