Nicola Bulley has faced “significant issues with alcohol” brought on by “ongoing struggles with the menopause”, police revealed on Wednesday night as they blamed “TikTok detectives” for distracting officers in the search for her.
Lancashire Constabulary took the “unusual step” of giving details about her private life “to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation”.
Officers had been called out to the family’s home in January due to a “concern for welfare” report, the force added.
Earlier, investigators told a news conference Ms Bulley had been treated as a “high-risk” due to “specific vulnerabilities”, but did not elaborate.
A Lancashire Constabulary statement said: “Sadly, it is clear from speaking to Paul [Ms Bulley’s partner] and the family that Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months.
“As a result of those issues, a response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Nicola’s home address on 10 January,” the statement continued. “No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated.
“It is an unusual step for us to take to go into this level of detail about someone’s private life, but we felt it was important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation.
“We have explained to Nicola’s family why we have released this further information and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
Ms Bulley disappeared on 27 January while walking her dog Willow along the River Wyre in Lancashire but has not been spotted since.
The force has come under criticism for quickly ruling out foul play when Ms Bulley vanished after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school in St Michael’s on Wyre.
On Wednesday, detectives held a press conference to defend their handling of the case, and to quash “persistent myths” that they say have been interfering with the investigation.
Senior officers were at pains to stress they did not believe anyone had attacked or abducted Ms Bulley and that they believe she had gone into the water without anyone else being involved.
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith said “TikTokers have been playing private detectives” near the scene of Ms Bulley’s disappearance.
“We’re really grateful to members of the public for ringing in to the inquiry, we wouldn’t have got this far without everyone’s help,” she said.
“But it’s also really obvious that we are being inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which are distracting us from our work.”
Anyone with information or footage that could help the investigation is asked to use the Major Incident Public Portal (MiPP) at Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
