A body recovered from a river on has been identified as Nicola Bulley after dental records confirmed it was the missing mum-of-two. The 45-year-old's body was discovered 23 days after her disappearance after being found less than a mile downstream from where she was last seen on January 27.
On the day she went missing Nicola had been walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Her body was found following a tip-off from two walkers who called the police at around 11.35am on Sunday, February 20.
It was heard today at Lancashire Coroner’s Court (Tuesday, February 22) that the mum had been identified by her dental records. The police force has initially said it was treating Nicola's death as "unexplained" but had confirmed that the body had been formally identified as Nicola, reports The Daily Mirror.
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Opening an inquest, senior coroner Dr James Adeley said he had contacted consultant maxillofacial surgeon Ian Edwards to ask him to compare dental records obtained by police from the Great Eccleston dental surgery. Dr Adeley said the surgeon found restorative work carried out which was identical.
He said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made.” Lancashire Police called a press conference on Monday, February 21, during which it did not address the widespread criticism received for releasing some aspects of Nicola's private life into the public domain or why it had taken 23 days to find her body in the river.
Speaking at the force's HQ, Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson described the investigation as "hugely complex and highly emotional". He did not take questions from the media present.
Nicola's case sparked national interest from the media and individuals alike, which led to the family slamming the harmful speculation that spread like wildfire. This morning, a GoFundMe campaign surpassed its £10,000 target to raise funds for Nicola's funeral and to further support her family members.
When Nicola was reported as missing a massive search was launched on land, air and out nearly 14 miles to the sear with specialist divers, drones, dogs and officers using boats to trawl the river after Nicola was reported missing. However, her body was found on a stretch of the river just past a slight bend a mile or so outside the village.
A tree had fallen on its side, half in and out of the water, with branches and undergrowth partially submerged. Police officers had erected a tent and cordoned off the lane while police divers were called in, but the road was reopened around three hours later once the body was recovered.
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