Cops have revealed why specialist force divers were back searching the River Wyre where Nicola Bulley 's body was found, seven weeks on from the grim discovery. The mum-of-two disappeared while walking her dog Willow along the banks of the river in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27.
A huge response was sparked to try and trace the missing 45-year-old. Police, fire crews, underwater specialists and mountain rescue teams were all part of the search bid, along with her loved ones and members of the local community.
On February 19, her body was found just over a mile from where Nicola vanished. And now, seven weeks on, police divers are back in the River Wyre, where they spent days combing the water for the mum.
Questions were raised about how Nicola's body was found so close to where she disappeared, in an area that had been thoroughly searched, but remained undetected until a tip-off from two walkers on February 19, over three weeks after the alarm was raised.
An inquest into the mortgage adviser's death was opened on February 22, though family were not in attendance. The next inquest hearing will be on Monday, June 26, at County Hall in Preston, where Nicola's loved ones will learn how she died.
The specialist divers have been back at the scene at the request of the HM Coroner in a bid to gather more evidence that should provide a clearer picture into the mum's death.
A spokesman for HM Coroner told Lancashire Post: “The investigation will take time to complete to ensure that as complete a picture as possible of the facts concerning Ms Bulley's death is presented at the inquest. This will assist the family in understanding what occurred.
"As part of this process, HM Senior Coroner has requested Lancashire Constabulary produce information gathered during the search for Ms Bulley so it can be considered as part of the investigation.”
A spokesperson for the force said: “We can confirm this is us carrying out some work at the direction of HM Coroner."
Opening the inquest in February, 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 was identical. He said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities, and more, that positive identification has been made.”
Nicola's disappearance dominated news coverage for several days and weeks after her phone, which was connected to a work call, was found on a bench close to the water's edge. Willow was also discovered nearby.
As well as emergency services and locals, a specialist search was also launched by Peter Faulding, who used sonar equipment to scour the water. However, Faulding's team were unable to find Nicola's body and his efforts led him to be removed from the NCA expert list.
The case also sparked a lot of harmful speculation online as armchair detectives flocked to the area. For her funeral last month, a no-fly zone was put in place over the church to stop sick internet sleuths from filming it.
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