'Social media detectives' suggesting 'third party involvement' in the disappearance of a much-loved Salford dad are 'fuelling speculation', his devastated wife has said.
55-year-old Peter Baglin, from Boothstown, vanished almost ten weeks ago after going out for an evening walk along the Bridgewater Canal to 'clear his head'. He was spotted on CCTV cameras in a local petrol station, on the East Lancashire Road, buying a small bottle of whiskey. On a phone call minutes later, he assured wife Michelle he would be home soon - but he never returned.
Among hundreds of messages of support and goodwill, Michelle, his partner of almost 30 years, has also had to contend with a number of vile comments from trolls in recent weeks, some of which suggested Peter 'may have cheated' and 'doesn't want to be found'.
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She has also slammed those who are sharing their own videos online, with one YouTuber suggesting a possible 'third party' being involved in his 'strange' disappearance.
The emergence of 'social media detectives' echoes the recent case of tragic mum Nicola Bulley, who went missing in Lancashire before her body was recovered from the River Wyre weeks later.
Lancashire Police had previously hit out at a number TikTok sleuths who had been seen regularly filming near the location of where Nicola Bulley was last seen, sharing various conspiracies in posts online. It prompted police to implement dispersal orders in the area and council chiefs to slam acts of 'social media idiocy'.
"These people say they are social media detectives, but it hasn't sat very well with me and it is not helpful at all. It is giving false information like there possibly being a third party involved," Michelle said.
"It is very inappropriate and just fuels more speculation. I don't like the implications, but I have already had this with all the stuff on Facebook.
"Someone has commented, like people do, 'well he might have been having an affair or seeing somebody, you don't know that' and I put 'I actually do'.
"Out of a lot of messages I've only had a few like 'obviously he doesn't want to be found, leave him alone' and I just think, wait until it's your husband or daughter who's gone missing. It's not a nice place."
As the investigation nears its tenth week, police have sent divers into the Bridgewater Canal for a second time as in the hope of potential new leads in the search for the great-grandad. On the night Peter went missing, police said there were 'extremely low temperatures' and that a change in seasons can 'impact how the water behaves'.
Initially, in the days following Peter's disappearance, Greater Manchester Police and underwater divers carried out extensive searches of the Bridgewater Canal between the Moorings and Astley Point. Mountain Rescue teams combed adjoining fields and woodland areas, with an infrared drone also deployed.
The force also conducted CCTV and doorbell footage from the local area and afar, with over 200 members of the local community and Peter's family also lending a hand in carrying out weeks of searches of their own. A number of his belongings were later found on the embankment of the canal but there was still no sign of Peter.
Last week, efforts ramped up further after a voluntary underwater search team, Beneath the Surface, stepped in to offer help, using high frequency sonar technology to scour around three miles of the Bridgewater Canal. However, their search did not indicate a body was in the water.
Senior Investigating Officer Michael Sharples from Salford CID said: "This search is just one line of enquiry that we are following. We continue to follow up on every lead given to us by members of the public and urge anyone who thinks they have seen Peter, to get in touch.
"At the time Peter went missing, there were extremely low temperatures and not much boat traffic on the water. This part of the canal is very unique and as such, changes in temperature and the fact the season is changing, can impact on how the water behaves.
"Due to this, we have decided to carry out the search again. We will also have the drone back in the air, which is used to access areas that are harder to reach on foot. We are working closely with Peter's wife, Michelle, and the family and continue to provide ongoing support.
"We are using all of our resources in our attempts to find Peter, and we thank the other agencies who are providing us with the important support. Not only will we be carrying out these searches, but we will looking for even more CCTV and Ring doorbell footage, and if you feel you may have seen Peter on the evening of the 28th, we urge you to please get in touch with us with any information you may have."
Peter, who works at Salford Royal Hospital alongside wife Michelle, was last seen wearing navy coloured joggers, walking shoe type trainers and a grey Mountain Equipment hoodie with a red zip and a hat. He is described as being 5ft 10ins in height, with grey hair, and a tattoo on the left side of his neck that says 'Michelle'. He is also wearing his wedding ring.
You can call 101 or use the Live Chat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk. You can also provide information anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.
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