A private investigator has said Nicola Bulley could still be alive as the search for the missing mum approaches its third week. The PI with years of experience with missing persons cases described Ms Bulley’s case as baffling.
His comments come as well-wishers continue to leave messsages of hope the 45-year-old will be found unharmed in the village of St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, near where she disappeared on January 27.
The private investigator, who is part of a team at Insight Investigations, told Express.co.uk: “It’s extremely mysterious. To be honest I’m baffled by it.
“I’ve done missing persons enquiries before, but I’m baffled by this one – the fact that she has vanished without trace.”
He continued: “I think there’s a chance she may be alive, going by the lack of evidence that’s been found.”
The search in Morecambe Bay is in its fifth day with officers on horseback having surveyed elevated paths in the village of Knott End-on-Sea on Monday.
Lancashire Constabulary widened the search for her body to the sea on Thursday after detectives said finding her “in the open sea becomes more of a possibility”.
Officers are still looking for clues near the bench on the riverbank where her phone was found still connected to a work call on the day she disappeared.
Detectives believe she fell into the Wyre “in a 10-minute window” while walking her springer spaniel Willow on her usual morning walk after dropping her daughters – Harriet and Sophia – at school.
Ms Bulley had logged into a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am, which ended at 9.30am with her phone still connected to the call.
She was seen by another dog walker at 9.10am – the last known sighting – and police traced telephony records of her mobile phone as it remained on a bench overlooking the river at 9.20am.
The device was found by a dog walker at around 9.35am with Willow nearby.
Lancashire Constabulary says it does not think she came to any harm. It has also discounted foul play.
Ms Bulley’s heartbroken husband said last week his “gut instinct” is she is not in the river.
Paul Ansell said he wanted to keep “all options open” over her disappearance.
He told 5 News Ms Bulley was “a pillar of strength” to the family and without her, “the hole is bigger than you can possibly imagine”.
Anyone with information which could help the investigation should call 101 quoting log 0565 of January 30. For immediate sightings call 999.
