Nicola Bulley's partner has visited the river she could have fell in, alongside an expert who fears missing mother was abducted. Paul Ansell has been pictured at the search scene of his missing girlfriend as the investigation reaches its 13th day.
The 44-year-old has been snapped being briefed by police and dive expert, Peter Faulding, as he looked out across the River Wyre at the point where investigators believe his long-term girlfriend fell in. Nicola vanished on January 27 after dropping off her two children at school in Lancashire, before taking family dog Willow for a walk on a nearby trail.
The Mirror reports that her phone was later found on a bench, with the springer spaniel wandering nearby without her harness. Paul is understood to have been contacted by another dog walker who came across the scene on the morning of the disappearance.
The boyfriend then rushed to the scene and quickly called the police. He has since has put out a number of appeals, on TV and through the police in recent days.
On Monday, he said he and everyone close to Nicola needs to know what happened to her. The father added that his daughters "miss their mummy desperately" and have been going through "a tough time" since her disappearance.
Paul has been asked by forensic underwater search chief Mr Faulding whether his missing partner had any "enemies or stalkers" amid fears she could have been abducted. Mr Faulding is the founder of Specialist Group International (SGI), who were drafted in earlier this week to help the river search with their high tech sonar equipment.
The dive expert previously claimed his team would find Nicola almost immediately if she fell in the river at the point by the bench However, with still no sign of her, he believes she may well have been abducted.
Mr Faulding says he called Paul on Monday evening to update him on SGI's first day. He added that the dad was "distraught" over the situation.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Faulding said: "I spoke to Paul last night and asked him if she had any enemies, any stalkers, the normal questions you would ask. And nothing, he said no.
"And she was totally normal that day when she left, nothing out the ordinary."
Paul has previously been out as part of volunteer searches, including reportedly searching an abandoned property. A family friend also claimed that he attended a meeting on January 29, two days after Nicola's disappearance.
The meeting at the village hall saw those in attendance then be launched into two separate search teams. As the search for Nicola continues to be fruitless, Mr Faulding believes more than ever that a third party could be involved.
He has admitted the case has baffled him, telling LBC "she's just disappeared like she's been taken by aliens".
He told Good Morning Britain: "I personally think if I rule this stretch of river out today where we're working I don't think she's here, I think there's probably a third party involved."
However, Lancashire Police have ruled out foul play, with Superintendent Sally Riley yesterday playing down Mr Faulding's theories. Asked about the dive expert comments at a press briefing, Supt Riley said: "I thank SGI for the help they've given to the team.
"Our search has not found Nicola in the river and any re-search done in parts by SGI found the same. That does not mean that Nicola has not been in the river.
"And in light of other enquiries being discounted from the investigation so far - although we are keeping an open mind to anything new - then clearly our main belief is that Nicola did fall into the river. Clearly Mr Faulding isn't included in all the investigation detail anymore than the members of the public are that I'm briefing through these sorts of press conferences.
"We would ask that we be allowed time to continue with those enquiries and release to the public only what is relevant."
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