Search in Gaynor Lord: Police say 30 people have come forward with information
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Specialist divers have found a body while searching for missing Norwich mother Gaynor Lord.
After a week of searching, Norfolk Police confirmed the yet-to-be-identified body was pulled from the River Wensum by underwater search teams on Friday morning. According to the police, there is no evidence of third-party involvement.
A Norfolk Police spokesman said: “Although the body has not been formally identified, Gaynor’s family have been informed. They will continue to be supported by specially trained officers.”
In the morning, police were seen marking a specific part of the body of water with an orange buoy, about 100 meters downstream from where Thursday's search was the focus.
In a statement to reporters following the discovery, Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley said: “We remain open to the circumstances surrounding Gaynor's disappearance and will continue to pursue all inquiries to establish why she went missing. “I would like to say that at this time nor is it a missing persons investigation.
Ms Gaynor was reported missing after she failed to return home from work in Norwich city center last Friday.
Important points
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The Dean of Norwich opens the cathedral for prayers for Gaynor Lord
The Dean of Norwich, the Reverend Dr. Andrew Braddock, who saw the cathedral become a major focus of the search for Gaynor Lord, made a statement following the discovery of a body.
He said: “Following the latest news from police searching for Gaynor Lord, Norwich Cathedral’s thoughts and prayers are with all her family and friends at this extremely distressing time.
“As always, the cathedral is open as a place for people to reflect, pray or light a candle.”
It happened after a body was removed from the River Wensum near St Martins Close in Norwich.
Police had focused their search for Gaynor on the river in Wensum Park after items belonging to the mother-of-three were found there.
The entrance to Norwich Cathedral where Gaynor Lord was seen walking
(PA)
Barney DavisDecember 16, 2023 10:56 am
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Police are “working hard” to uncover the reason for the dive into the water
Missing persons expert Charlie Hedges analyzes the case of Gaynor Lord after Norfolk Police discovered a body in a nearby river.
He told GB News: “It’s important to keep an open mind. Police will be working very hard to understand her circumstances and background and look for information that may shed light on why she entered the water.
“Was it voluntary? They said they had ruled out third parties, but of course they wanted to know as much as possible.”
He added that he expected the information to be made publicly available in due course.
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley speaks to the media in Wensum Park, Norwich, as specialist divers searching for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord recovered a body in the River Wensum (Joe Giddens/PA)
(PA cable)
Barney DavisDecember 16, 2023 09:43
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Gaynor's husband 'completely lost' after body found
The body found in the River Wensum has not been officially identified as police are treating the death as a missing person investigation.
Gaynor's family is supported by professionals.
A family friend told The Times: “Gaynor’s husband Clive is completely lost.
“He doesn’t understand what happened at all.”
Her daughter Alexandra, 22, had desperately asked for help on Facebook to find her mother.
She said earlier this week: “If anyone knows anything please contact the police.
Gaynor's other daughter Charlotte, 24, also shared police appeals several times on social media. Their latest tragic update confirms that a body has been found.
Barney DavisDecember 16, 2023 08:31
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Police were “satisfied” that Gaynor had not met anyone before his disappearance
Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley, Norfolk County Police Commander, said: “We have been able to track Gaynor's movements through CCTV around the city and are satisfied at this stage that there is no evidence that Gaynor met anyone on the way to the park.”
“Although this is not the result we wanted, our search has always been primarily focused on the river and the park.
“An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. However, I would like to emphasize once again that there is currently no evidence of third-party involvement. Our previous investigations have not changed this.”
(PA)
Barney DavisDecember 16, 2023 08:20
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Timeline of Gaynor's movements before he went missing on Friday, December 8, 2023
2:44 p.m – Gaynor works at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement of Jarrold department store – her clothing is clearly visible
2:45-2:46 p.m – She leaves the store via the loading dock on Bedford Street
2:47 p.m – Go onto London Street, past the Cozy Club
2:48 p.m – Gaynor enters Queens Street and goes to the cathedral
3:22 p.m – Gaynor is seen in The Close at the entrance to the cathedral – just before she goes out through the archway, she puts on her coat
3:23 p.m – She is seen walking away from the cathedral on Queens Street – here you can clearly see the coat she was wearing
3:49 p.m – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George's Street
3:53 p.m – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
4:01 p.m – Gaynor walks down St. Augustines Street – her final movements captured on CCTV before she goes missing
Lydia PatrickDecember 16, 2023 01:00
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Flower gifts for missing mother of three
Bouquets of flowers have begun to be laid for Gaynor Lord near the gates of Wensum Park in Norwich. There are still three bouquets left until Friday at 3 p.m.
One of them said, “Gaynor, may you be at peace. God bless your family.”
Flowers outside Wensum Park, Norwich, as specialist divers searching for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord found a body in the River Wensum
(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Lydia PatrickDecember 16, 2023 12:00 am
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Summary: In the search for missing Norwich mother Gaynor Lord, the body was recovered from the river
Specialist divers recovered a body from a river on Friday morning after a week-long search for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord.
Read Athena Stavrou's full report
Sam RkainaDecember 15, 2023 11:00 p.m
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Watch – CCTV shows missing mother's last known moments
Gaynor Lord: CCTV shows missing mother's last known moments
Lydia PatrickDecember 15, 2023 10:00 p.m
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Why did she leave work early?
Mrs Lord worked at Jarrolds department store on Bedford Street in Norwich.
Her shift on Friday was supposed to end at 4 p.m., but instead she left more than an hour early at 2:45 p.m. So far, police have not been able to explain the reason and have been informed by friends and family that her behavior was out of character.
Chief Superintendant Dave Buckley gave a media briefing yesterday and said: “We cannot explain some of her behavior that day. “We are working very closely with family, friends and anyone else who may have come into contact in recent days or weeks to her to find out why this might have happened.
“People are very shocked by what happened. Nobody knows why she did what she did.”
Gaynor Lord (Norfolk Police/PA)
((Norfolk Police/PA))
Lydia PatrickDecember 15, 2023 7:00 p.m
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Watch – Gaynor Lord's friend reports missing mother's last call
Gaynor Lord's friend recounts missing mother's last call
Lydia PatrickDecember 15, 2023 6:30 p.m
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