The River Wyre has been searched again by police divers in the latest stage of the investigation into the disappearance of Nicola Bulley. The mum-of-two went missing on January 27 this year and her body was tragically found in the River Wyre on February 19 after a three-week search operation.
Police, working alongside experts, extensively searched the stretch of the river near to where she had last been seen, but they struggled to find clues before her body was found. The investigation into her disappearance was concluded by Lancashire Constabulary on the basis that it had found no suspicious circumstances and there was not believed to be anybody else involved, LancsLive reports.
However, her death is now being investigated by a coroner. They are required to investigate any death which is suspicious or unexplained and they are tasked with determining how a person died.
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It is common for a water-related death to be investigated as a result and it is the coroner's discretion to decide what form that investigation should take place. New footage has come to light showing police divers in the River Wyre last week investigating the case.
Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, is responsible for this investigation. He has previously said he would use evidence gathered by the police in that process. It was at this order that the new search, believed to have happened on April 4, took place.
The inquest into Nicola’s death opened on February and a full hearing will take place on June 26. Dr Adeley has previously asked the police not to publicly discuss the case and it has limited its comment on the latest search. A spokesperson told LancsLive that the search took place last week, adding: "We can confirm we are carrying out some work on the direction of HM coroner.”
Speaking after the inquest was opened in February, Dr Adeley said: "The investigation will take time to complete to ensure that as complete a picture as possible of the facts concerning Ms Bulley's death is presented at the inquest. This will assist the family in understanding what occurred.
"As part of this process, HM Senior Coroner has requested Lancashire Constabulary produce information gathered during the search for Ms Bulley so it can be considered as part of the investigation. Whilst HM Senior Coroner considers this information, Lancashire Constabulary have been asked by HM Coroner not to discuss the case in either social media or the mainstream media."
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