Police Search for Missing Object in River Related to Nicola Bulley’s Death, Pathologist Suggests
Forensic pathologist said NICOLA police are looking for a specific object in the river where the mother’s body was found.
Previously, video footage showed specialized police officers searching the water to determine the tragic mother’s cause of death.
When her cellphone was found on a bench during a work conference call, Nicola’s disappearance became a mystery.
To locate the mother of two, police, firefighters, mountain rescue, underwater teams, and the local community launched a massive search.
The body of Nicola was discovered in the river on February 20, three weeks after her disappearance.
Police divers searched the water less than a mile from where Nicola, 45, was last seen on January 27.
Lancashire Police confirmed coroners requested a river re-examination to get a “complete picture” of how the mother died.
Now, Dr. Richard Shepherd, a forensic pathologist, believes that the police are searching for a missing item.
ALSO READ: Police revisit the site of Nicola Bulley’s discovery
Dr. Shepherd told The Mirror, “I’m having a difficult time imagining what they could be looking for that would influence or affect the cause of death.”
When Nicola’s body was discovered, it would have been transported to the morgue, where a formal post-mortem would have been conducted to check for natural diseases, injuries, and drug and alcohol traces.
He added, “However, they must have a motive for doing so; I suspect they are searching for an artifact of some type.”
“I think they want to make sure something they can’t find isn’t in the river.
“My impression is that they are seeking something specific.
“The last thing police want after social media interest, in this case, is for it to be revealed in an inquest that something is missing and then found by the public.”
On Monday, June 26, an inquest into Nicola’s death will be held at County Hall in Preston.
When Nicola disappeared, she has deemed a “high-risk” missing person due to a “number of specific vulnerabilities.”
Willow, Nicola’s springer spaniel, was also located, but there was no sign of the mother of two.
When asked if he believed the divers’ most recent search was a possible reconstruction of events, Dr. Shepherd responded, “I don’t believe so because rivers are so variable.”
No model, mannequin, or person could recreate that day.
ALSO READ: Tragic discovery: Nicola Bulley’s body identified by dental records, inquest reveals
Officers combed through wooded areas, ditches, water’s edge, and the grounds of an abandoned residence.
Peter Faulding, a scuba diving expert, launched a specialized search using £50,000 worth of sonar equipment to comb the water.
He believed Nicola was not in the river because she could have “stood up” if she fell in.
Dr. James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, requested that the police conduct the investigation, the police revealed on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for HM Coroner stated, “The investigation will take time to complete so that the inquest is presented with as complete a picture of the facts surrounding Ms. Bulley’s death as possible.”
This will help the family understand what transpired.
“As part of this procedure, HM Senior Coroner has requested that Lancashire Constabulary produce information gathered during the search for Ms. Bulley so that it can be evaluated as part of the investigation.”
Web sleuths flocked to the area where she was last seen to solve the case after Nicola’s disappearance sparked a flurry of online speculation.
Police Search for Missing Object in River Related to Nicola Bulley’s Death, Pathologist Suggests
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