A forensic expert is to begin his own search for "deposition sites" near where Nicola Bulley went missing. Peter Faulding has announced that he launching his own "low-key" investigation into potential places where the missing mum-of-two could have been buried.
Mr Faulding and his private underwater search team have been on the scene since last week, spending three days scouring several miles of the river before calling off the search. The diver has previously expressed his doubts about the Police theory that Nicola fell into the river.
The news comes after reports of 'suspicious people' hanging around the area where the dog walker was last seen. Mr Faulding told the Express: "I’m talking to the family and obviously have vast experience finding buried bodies. We’ve got to consider all options here, there has been that report of suspicious people hanging around.
"I was frank with Paul and Heather the other day because we need to consider possible deposition sites, we don’t know. I’m not saying the police aren’t doing that and what I don’t want to do is interfere with the police operation. Mine (investigation) will be low key, I will just be looking around for possible deposition sites."
The Mirror reports that authorities are continuing to search the River Wyre towards the sea at Morecambe Bay. They believe she may have fallen in while retrieving a ball for her dog Willow.
Mr Faulding told the Daily Mail: "I think the worst mistake the police have made was to declare early on that she’s in the river rather than saying 'let’s keep lines of enquiry open'. This is a lady who knew this area intimately, she was slim and fit, and if she had fallen she could have grabbed on to the bank."
Nicola disappeared on January 27 while walking her springer spaniel Willow in St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire, shortly after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school.
Police have been joined by specialists from HM Coastguard, mountain rescue and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as the search for the 45-year-old mortgage advisor has entered its 18th day.
Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell, said he wants to keep "all options open" about her disappearance, but his "gut instinct" tells him she is not in the river. He described Ms Bulley as "fun", "loving", "the most loyal friend you could ever have" and an "exceptional mum" who "absolutely adores our girls".
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