The partner of missing Nicola Bulley he wants "every house" searched in the area where she went missing. Speaking to 5 News presenter Dan Walker, Paul Ansell said he wants to keep “all options open” about her disappearance.
Police have discounted foul play and are treating the incident as a missing person inquiry, believing that Ms Bulley fell into a river where she was walking her dog Willow. However Mr Ansell said he was "100% convinced it's not the river".
Ms Bulley vanished while walking her springer spaniel dog Willow alongside the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire on January 27. Despite a huge search of the river and surrounding countryside by Lancashire Police, no trace of her has been found.
Mr Ansell said: "It's not nice talking about it but at the same time we've taken hope from it that no item of clothing has been found anywhere where you would have thought something...and absolutely nothing. So for me, personally, I'm 100% convinced it's not the river. That's my opinion."
He added: "It's horrendous, people don't just vanish into thin air, it's impossible. There has to be a way to find out what happened. You cannot walk your dog down a river and just vanish into thin air.
"My plea now is personally I want every house every garage every outbuilding, the land scrutinised, I want it all searched, every piece of it. And you're not going to appease me with anything else."
Viewers on Twitter said it was "heartbreaking" to see Mr Ansell with Willow, who shared a sofa with him during the interview. And he echoed many of their comments about the "frustration" of the family dog being the only witness to what happened to Ms Bulley.
He said: "That's another layer of frustration and hell to it. It's a hellish situation and also having Willow, who probably does know what happened but she can't tell us can she? She's a very sensitive dog. I did take her back there first thing on the Saturday.
"I was praying and hoping that once we got to the gate she would do something different...give some sign of some kind but bless her, she just went through the gate like any other normal day.
"I was saying 'Where's mummy?' and she was just looking at me like 'Let's go for a walk'."
Many viewers on Twitter said their hearts went out to Ms Bulley's family amid their ongoing anguish. furries90 said: "Seeing Willow wandering about is heartbreaking. That dog knows and can't tell us. Such a sweet dog."
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
Sarahsimmons4 said: "Lots of love to NicolaBulley family and friends who are going through hell. You're a very kind and gentle interviewer @mrdanwalker and their dog loves you."
Kate Baldock said: "My god, the pain radiating through the tv screen right now from Paul, the partner of #NicolaBulley. You can feel it." And kelshaw1 said: "Aww Willow..up on the sofa with Dan. Whole family ripped apart. It's absolutely heartbreaking."
