Gaynor Lord: 'High probability' missing Norwich mum went into river - police

Summary

Julie Butcher, a friend of missing woman Gaynor Lord, said she received two calls from her on Friday afternoon, when she disappeared
Ms Butcher said she saw her friend in Jarrolds, the Norwich department store where Ms Lord worked, three days earlier, when she "seemed fine"
Police say there's a "high probability" that mother-of-three Ms Lord went into the River Wensum in the city
Officers say this "working hypothesis" is based on CCTV footage and their "very limited" witnesses - though say they're keeping an "open mind"
They've also released new video of the 55-year-old walking along St Augustine’s Street - which they say is the last footage of her before she went missing
Divers are searching the river for Ms Lord and continue to look through Wensum Park for clues
A member of the public found clothing and jewellery belonging to Ms Lord in the park on Friday
In his update to reporters, Ch Supt Dave Buckley said: "Nobody saw her go into the river but we know she ended up in the park"

Live Reporting

By Andy Trigg, Alex Pope and Rachael McMenemy. Edited by Laurence Cawley and James Hore

Wensum Park remains closed offpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Wensum Park has been closed off to the public since Saturday as specialist teams continue their search.
Norfolk Police said searches have been carried out in the River Wensum with assistance from the constabulary’s marine unit, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the Coastguard.
Specialist underwater search teams from Lincolnshire Police arrived on Wednesday to join the force to search the river.
What support is available?published at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
About 170,000 people go missing each year, according to the charity Missing People.
The charity believes this number is likely to be a "significant underestimate", external.
Missing People offers a confidential, free, 24/7 lifeline for people who run away and go missing each year in the UK. Help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.
Police are searching a wasteland area opposite Wensum Parkpublished at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Norfolk police are searching an area wasteland opposite Wensum Park in Norwich.
BBC Look East cameraman Shaun Whitmore has just sent us these images from the scene of the police search.
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Gaynor's family just 'want her home'published at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Maria Veronese
BBC Look East
Image source, Norfolk Police
The last CCTV sighting of Gaynor Lord was close to where I am now, about a mile away (1.6km) from Wensum Park in Norwich.
At this stage the police have told me they believe Gaynor entered the water, they don't think a third-party was involved.
They're asking for anyone with information to come forward and on social media, her family have simply said "they want her home".
No third party involvement in disappearance, police believepublished at 10:09 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Tim Addicott
BBC Radio Norfolk
Police in Norfolk are currently working on the theory that there was no third-party involvement in the disappearance of Gaynor Lord.
CCTV footage shows her movements around Norwich City centre between 14:45 and 16:00 GMT on Friday.
Her clothes and belongings were found in Wensum Park at 8pm that evening.
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Supt Wes Hornigold said: "There's nothing within those those CCTV images that would give us any rise for concern.
"All of the work we've been doing over the last few days has given us no concern in terms of any third party involvement whatsoever.
"Our hypothesis remains that Gaynor has gone into the water, here at Wensum Park."
Police ask for public helppublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Norfolk Police is continuing to appeal for any information about the disappearance of Gaynor Lord, 55.
It has asked for anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage of her before she went missing to get in touch.
She left Jarrold department store via Bedford Street at 14:45 GMT on Friday, and walked along London Street, Queen Street and toward the cathedral.
She had not been due to finish her shift until 16:00.
Image source, Norfolk Police
Anyone with information or who knows of her whereabouts should contact Norfolk Police on 101, quoting incident number 427 of 8 December 2023.
Gaynor Lord's last movements released on CCTVpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
On Wednesday, Norfolk Police released footage of Gaynor Lord’s last known movements before she went missing.
The footage shows Ms Lord hurrying through the city centre, hours before her belongings - including clothing, jewellery, her phone and glasses - were found in Wensum Park.
Media caption,
CCTV of missing Norfolk mum released by police
Gaynor Lord timelinepublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Here is the timeline of what we know so far:
- Friday 14:45 Gaynor Lord is seen on London Street in Norwich city centre, heading towards the cathedral
- Friday at about 16:00 An eyewitness says they saw a woman matching the description of Ms Lord in Wensum Park
- Friday evening Ms Lord is reported missing after failing to return home from work. Her belongings, including clothing and jewellery, were found by a member of the public in Wensum Park.
- Friday evening Wensum Park is closed to the public
- Monday Specialist search teams use a drone and sonar equipment to scour the area but nothing is found
- Tuesday Police turn their attention to underwater searches
- Wednesday Police release CCTV footage of Ms Lord, who was last seen walking up St Augustines Street
Gaynor Lord live updatespublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2023
Good morning and welcome to our live updates on the disappearance of Gaynor Lord.
The 55-year-old has not been seen since Friday, when she went missing in Norwich.
Image source, Norfolk Police