How hunt for Nicola Bulley unfolded – missing mum was reported 2 HOURS after she was last seen as search reaches 2 weeks
THIS is how the hunt for missing mum Nicola Bulley has unfolded in the two weeks since she vanished.
Tomorrow will mark the 14th day since the mum-of-two was last seen - here's a breakdown of the past fortnight.
January 27
As she often did, Nicola dropped her daughters at school and set off to walk dog Willow.
She wandered along the towpath to the River Wyre at about 8.43am.
Police say around seven minutes later a dog walker who knows Nicola saw her.
She said their pooches briefly interacted before she left the mum via the river path.
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At 8.53am, the mum sent an email to her boss at Exclusively Mortgages.
The mortgage broker then sent a text to a friend at 8.57am to book a playdate, then logged into a Teams meeting - with her video off and mic muted - as she made her way along her usual track.
That was 9.01am, and nine minutes later a person saw her walking through the upper field with Willow.
Police say at 9.30am the work call ended but Nicola stayed logged on.
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Then, at 9.35am, Nicola's phone was found on the bench, with Willow nearby, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Pals of Nicola have said the person tied the dog to the bench and messaged a family member asking if they knew who it belonged to.
When they were told it was Nicola's they phoned her daughters' school, who then phoned her partner Paul Anesll.
today revealed police were only made aware the mum was missing almost two hours after she was last seen.
Lancashire Police confirmed it only received a call at 11am, but quickly launched a probe.
January 28
Drones, helicopters and police search dogs were deployed as part of the huge missing person's operation.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team also lent their services.
Despite the massive search, there is still no trace of Nicola.
January 29
Volunteers met in the village hall to organise a search for Nicola.
Around 100 locals helped out as police urge them to exercise caution.
Officers described the river as “extremely dangerous”.
January 30
Superintendent Sally Riley said police were “keeping a really open mind about what could have happened”.
They confirmed the mum's disappearance is not being treated as suspicious.
Nicola's partner of 12 years said her daughters, nine and six, were desperate for their mum to come home.
Speaking at the family home in Inskip, Paul Anesll said: "It is just perpetual hell. Utter disbelief.
"All we can say is we need to find her. She's got two little girls that need their mummy home.
"We have got to get some good news now."
January 31
Police spoke to a potential witness seen walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre when Nicola vanished.
Her family released a statement saying they had been “overwhelmed by the support” in their community.
They also said Nicola's daughters were “desperate to have their mummy back home safe”.
February 1
Nicola's parents Ernest and Dot opened up about their fears that somebody has "got her".
Ernest said the family "dread to think" they will never see Nicola again as he does not how they would deal with that "for the rest of our lives".
Speaking about her daughter's children, he added: "We don't know how long we can keep going before they realise, they think mummy is coming home soon, but if this keeps going on and on I don't know where we are going to go or what to say to them."
February 2
A second witness was identified by police.
Copes urged the woman dressed in a red coat to get in touch before later questioning her.
The same day, Nicola's family wept as they issued a heartfelt plea for information.
Sister Louise Cunningham told : "If I'm being honest, it feels like I'm just stuck in a nightmare.
"We're going round and round in circles trying to piece together what could have possibly happened.
"It's like she's just vanished into thin air. We just want her home, we need her home, her children need her home. It's absolutely heartbreaking."
February 3
Lancashire Police held a press conference and confirmed their “main working hypothesis” was that Nicola had “sadly fallen in the river”.
Supt Sally Riley said there may have been an "issue" with dog Willow that led Nicola to the edge of the water.
The officer also confirmed there is a 10-minute window where they cannot account for Nicola's movements.
This was between 9.10am - the last confirmed sighting - and 9.20am when Nicola's phone is believed to have been on a bench while connected to a work call.
She also gave a list of clothing Nicola was last seen wearing - including an ankle-length black quilted gilet jacket.
February 4
Nicola's sister said there was "no evidence" behind the police theory that the missing mum plunged into the river.
Louise wrote: "Off the back of the latest police media update, please can I add there is no evidence whatsoever that she has gone into the river, it's just a theory.
"Everyone needs to keep an open mind as not all CCTV and leads have been investigated fully, the police confirmed the case is far from over."
Emma White, a friend of Nicola's, also rejected the police's theory.
February 5
Lancashire Police spoke to another witness - a woman seen pushing a pram near where Nicola vanished.
CCTV was also released by Nicola's loved ones showing the mum on the day she vanished.
Snaps from Nicola's own Ring Doorbell showed her loading her car outside her home just hours before she went missing.
February 6
Specialist Group International (SGI) began their search of the river using sonar equipment.
The team was led by expert in forensics Peter Faulding and offered their services free of charge.
But Peter later claimed Nicola's phone found by the river was a "decoy".
He also suggested a third party could be involved.
February 7
Police say they have probed "every criminal element" as they remain "fully open-minded" over her disappearance.
Supt Sally Riley said the force has not yet detected a "suspicious" element in Nicola's disappearance.
She added: "Every third-party element or criminal element has been looked into and discounted."
The officer also warned amateur detectives from trespassing in empty properties.
And she hit out at dive expert Peter Faulding, saying: "Clearly Mr Faulding isn’t included within all the investigation detail any more than the members of the public are that I’m briefing through these sorts of press conferences.”
It came after he told multiple news outlets he believed Nicola is not in the River Wyre and even asked her partner Paul Ansell if she had any ";enemies" after fearing she had been abducted.
February 8
The dive team dramatically called their search off - saying they had done all they can.
Peter told reporters: “Wherever she is I hope closure comes soon.
"All the family are clearly distraught."
Discussing search progress, the dive leader said there is simply "no sign" of Nicola near to where she vanished.
He explained: "We've cleared completely the area where the bench is and about a mile up from the bench, where the phone was initially found.
"We've run the side scan sonar from here down to the next bridge, which is about three or four miles away and there is no sign of Nicola in that particular area.
"We've done very thorough searches all the way down to the weir. I'm totally baffled by this one, to be honest.”
And he admitted he was "glad" his team haven't found her.
Nicola's partner Paul also visited the area where she was last seen.
February 10
Police were spotted scouring the sea and coastline - 20 miles away from where the mum vanished.
A new lead also emerged as a "tatty red van" was said to be seen parked close to where Nicola went missing on the day she went missing.
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Dive expert Peter Faulding also said there was video "proof" Nicola did not fall in the river.
Peter claims this means Nicola did not fall in the river as police believe.
