Specialist divers searching for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord have found a body in the River Wensum, Norfolk Police said.
The 55-year-old first disappeared after leaving work early in Norwich city centre at 2.45pm a week ago on Friday December 8.Her belongings were found in Wensum Park – around 1.5 miles from her workplace at Jarrolds department store – and her coat was discovered in the river that runs through the park.
Norfolk Police said there is no evidence of third party involvement.
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley told reporters on Friday: “We remain open-minded to the circumstances of Gaynor’s disappearance, and we’ll continue to pursue all lines of inquiry to ascertain why she went missing.
“I’m keen to say this remains a missing person inquiry at this stage.
“I am also satisfied at the moment, based on the evidence that we have, that Gaynor did not meet anyone on the way to the park, and we now have a better understanding of her movements through the city centre.”
The officer added: “I would reiterate at this stage that there is no evidence of third party involvement. Nothing in our inquiries have changed this position.”
Earlier the force said that while the body hasn’t formally been identified, Gaynor’s family have been informed.
"They continue to be supported by specially trained officers," police said.
The force previously said Ms Lord’s clothing, mobile phone, glasses and jewellery, including two rings, were discovered at various locations in the park.A huge search had been conducted by specialist divers in the River Wensum in Norwich on Friday.
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley confirmed to reporters that the body of a female had been found in the River Wensum, but her identity still needed to be established.
He said specialist Family Liaison Officers were supporting Gaynor Lord’s family, and a post-mortem examination would need to be completed on the body to establish means of death.
Mr Buckley added Norfolk Constabulary’s ongoing investigations were “predominantly focused on the river and the park”.
It comes as a friend of Ms Lord said she was “upbeat and happy” and talking about Christmas just days before she disappeared.
Julie Butcher said her friend seemed “fine” when they last met on Tuesday last week.
“We were talking. She was a bit busy but we were talking about Christmas and she seemed fine, no different to the usual Gaynor. She was quite upbeat and happy,” Ms Butcher told the BBC.
Ms Butcher told the broadcaster she spoke to her friend at 2.15pm on Friday last week but she had to cut the call short to speak to a client.
She said she received another call form Ms Lord at 4.15pm but it "sounded like a pocket call - I could hear movement in her pocket".
Norfolk Police previously said they have not been able to establish Ms Lord's state of mind when she went missing with "any degree of confidence".
The force released CCTV footage of what they believe is the last sighting of Ms Lord before she disappeared in Norwich on Friday December 8.
The CCTV clip shows Ms Lord, wearing glasses and a long coat, walking along St Augustines Street in Norwich, which is busy with traffic, at 4.01pm.
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley previously said it will take "a couple of days" or longer to complete the search of the stretch of river, which has included using sonar equipment.
Mr Buckley added that CCTV footage did not show anything about the motivations for Ms Lord's actions.
