Victoria Taylor: Police search river in hunt for missing mother after finding possessions nearby
Police say there is a “significant possibility” that missing mother Victoria Taylor entered a river before her disappearance late last month.
Ms Taylor, 34, went missing from Malton home in North Yorkshire on Monday 30 September.
Police have now revealed that some of her personal possessions were found near the River Derwent.
Police recovered CCTV footage showing Ms Taylor leaving her home at 9am, and purchasing several items at a BP garage in Norton at 11.35am. She was seen at Malton Bus Station shortly afterwards.
Chief Superintendent Fiona Willey said: “Victoria is seen to be carrying a bag which we believe contains the items from the BP garage.
“Additional witness evidence supports the fact that Victoria did not enter the station and we have no reason to believe that she used public transport at that time.”
But new CCTV footage recovered in the last 24 hours shows Victoria walking towards the playground on Riverside Walk at around 12.30pm. Multiple items belonging to Victoria were recovered from the park.
She added: “Based on the discovery of Victoria’s belongings so close to the water’s edge, we must accept the significant possibility that Victoria has entered the River Derwent.”
Specialist search terms are using sonar equipment and drones to search both above surface and below water for Ms Taylor, police said.
Chf Supt Willey added that there had been some “misinformation and speculation” about the search, which she said is “not helpful and is causing unnecessary anguish to Victoria’s family at this incredibly difficult time”.
The disappearance was causing an “unimaginable level of distress” for Ms Taylor’s family, she said.
Chf Supt Willey added: “We have put specialist officers in place to link in directly with the family to support them and keep them updated with our strategy and any developments.
“The family are supportive of the police response, and we are working together in our efforts to find Victoria.
“Over the coming days we will continue with our searches to find Victoria and ensure that we are doing all we can to support her family.
“Understandably, the disappearance of Victoria has shocked the local community and the family take comfort in the overwhelming amount of support from people both locally and further afield.”