Body found in search for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley

Police searching for missing UK woman Nicola Bulley have said they had found a body.

A body was recovered from a river near where Bulley went missing in the northern English village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire Police said.

The body has yet to be formally identified, but Bulley’s family has been informed of the discovery.

Nicola Bulley images released as it approaches three weeks since her disappearance — Nicola Bulley has been missing in the UK since January 27. (Twitter/LancashirePolice)

“We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road,” a police statement read.

“An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.

“Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.”

A police Search and Rescue team retrieve their boat after searching the banks of the River Wyre near to Shard Bridge, during the search for missing Nicola Bulley on February 10, 2023. — The investigation has sparked widespread interest from the public. (Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote on Twitter that the latest developments in the case were “heart-breaking” and “distressing.”

“My thoughts remain with Nicola’s family at this extremely difficult time,” she added.

Bulley, who worked as a mortgage adviser, went missing on the morning of Friday, January 27.

Police say she was walking her dog after dropping her two children off at school.

A short while later, her dog was found wandering alone and her phone spotted on a bench next to the river, still logged into a group work call.

But for three weeks, the search launched by Lancashire Police for the 45-year-old mother of two drew a blank.

Police are searching for Nicola Bulley, 45, from Inskip, Lancashire, who was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27, when she was spotted walking her dog on a footpath by the River Wyre. — Bulley was last seen walking her dog on a footpath by the River Wyre. (Lancashire Police)

Yellow ribbons with messages of hope written on them, are tied to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, as police continue their search for missing woman Nicola Bulley, 45, who was last seen on the morning of Friday January 27, when she was spotted walking her dog on a footpath by the nearby River Wyre. Picture date: Sunday February 12, 2023. — Yellow ribbons with messages of hope written on them, were tied to a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire. ( Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

Last week saw investigators sharply criticise members of the public they said were pedaling “persistent myths.”

Lancashire Police Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith told journalists on Wednesday that the social media frenzy had “significantly distracted” the investigation. “In 29 years’ police service, I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Some of it’s been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family. Obviously, we can’t disregard anything, and we’ve reviewed everything that’s come in but of course it has distracted us significantly.”

Lancashire Police’s decision to reveal personal details about Bulley sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing the force of sexism. Even the government slammed the police, with Braverman raising concerns over its handling of the case.

Stephanie Benyon, a friend of Bulley’s whose children attend the same school, previously told CNN that she is a “kind, loyal and thoughtful person who adores her two girls and family and friends.” Bulley’s partner of 12 years, Paul Ansell, had described the situation as a “perpetual hell.”