Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have addressed a number of "rumours" that have been circulating concerning the missing mum as the third week of the search continues.
Mum-of-two Nicola was last seen on the morning of Friday, January 27, where she vanished while out on a walk with her dog Willow after dropping her two daughters off at school. Police have now scoured "hundreds of hours" of CCTV and dashcam footage, as well as speaking to numerous witnesses and reviewing information sent in by the public in the hope of finding the missing mortgage advisor.
Giving a press conference on Wednesday, Lancashire Police reiterated that it remains their "main working hypothesis" that Nicola has gone into the river, but stressed that they are keeping an open mind about what could have happened to the missing 45-year-old as investigations continue. Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith addressed a number of "persistent myths" that have arisen around Nicola's disappearance.
READ MORE: 'Offensive' Nicola Bulley voicemail left amid flurry of 'mystery' calls
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Det Supt Smith insisted: "Whilst other people may speculate and spread rumours, there is no evidence whatsoever or information - and there has been a vast amount reviewed, I can assure you, in the last almost three weeks - to suggest any third-party involvement or Nicola leaving that field."
Police also said that they "are being inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which is distracting us from our work" as the search for Nicola continues alongside an "unprecedented" level of public interest in the missing mum. Det Supt Smith addressed five key pieces of information that have been circuiting in recent days as she clarified the truth behind these reports.
'Derelict building'
There have been reports of an "abandoned house" by the River Wyre, with some members of the public raising concerns that Nicola could be inside. But Det Supt Smith confirmed: "That has been searched three times with the permission of the owner, and Nicola is not in there."
'Red van'
"The red van, it has been reported that it was in the area on the morning of the 27th, like many other hundreds of cars that morning. We're really grateful to the witness who has told us about that, and we are continuing to make enquiries to try and track down that specific van," the detective explained.
"But from my perspective, being in possession of all the facts and information of this case, I do not believe that to be suspicious. But we are continuing to investigate that so that we can identify whoever was in the area at the time to make sure that they can't give us any further information that will assist the investigation."
'Suspicious fishermen'
"I myself don't find it suspicious that fishermen would be in the area of a river that morning or carrying fishing rods. But there was some suggestion that these males might have been looking to cover their faces," Det Supt Smith said.
"We have made numerous appeals for these fisherman to come forward. We have made contact with the local angling clubs, and we have also ascertained the time of the witness passing down that road and checked the CCTV [...] and we can't see any of those fishermen at that time on that day.
"But we are continuing to try to trace and trace these people. Again, I would urge that they are not necessarily suspicious to me, but I'm really keen to trace them to make sure that there's no further information that they can give us that will assist," she said.
'Stained glove'
"You'll no doubt be aware that TikTokers have been playing their own private detectives and have been in the area," Det Supt Smith said, addressing recent reports that a glove was found near where Nicola's phone was discovered. "A glove has been recovered that is not believed to be relevant to the investigation.
"It is not Nicola's," the detective confirmed. "But we have got that in our possession."
'Caravan park CCTV'
"There has been some mention of CCTV specifically at the caravan site that hasn't been working, and that that's suspicious in itself. That is not the case," Det Supt Smith insisted.
"We have been helped and assisted beyond belief by the caravan owners. The whole community wants to find Nicola and wants to give her family the answers they deserve."
The detective added: "The family are the most important part of this, and all this speculation and rumour is affecting them. They've got a loving daughter, sister, partner and mother who is missing, and that is my priority and the priority of the investigation team, and always has been."
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