North Yorkshire Police have conducted two investigations and questioned nine people in relation to Miss Lawrences disappearance and suspected murder but no charges have ever been brought. Police believe Miss Lawrence who was last seen on March 18 2009 has been murdered, although no body has ever been discovered. I remember a journalist mentioning that in all his decades of working as a reporter on missing persons cases he had never faced such hostility from the locals in the area or been literally threatened and warned off covering the story before as he had been with this one. "The case will not be closed until those responsible for Claudias disappearance and, we believe, her murder, are brought to justice. Other theories include human trafficking, possibly being a victim of. Lawrence's family became increasingly insistent that she must have been abducted. Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). A detective investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence 12 years ago has said it is not too late for people to come forward and stop the "unrelenting anguish" caused to the chef's loved ones. She also has a sister called Ali. [47][48] Nevertheless, some observers believe that the NYP's focus on Lawrence's lifestyle and social circle may have been misguided. [19] Galloway also stated that some people who had been interviewed had been "reluctant and less than candid" when spoken to, and that a team of officers had been sent to Cyprus to interview people whom Lawrence met there. (CCTV footage of Claudia's last known movements. View our online Press Pack. Editors' Note: Jan. 29, 2021 In proposing this essay to The Times, the author, Claudia Lawrence, represented herself as Native American. She seems to have accepted this offer. Mr Fox said some of the information received by the force appears extremely interesting and sparks a whole new line of investigation, and he urged anyone providing this information to get back in touch with as much detail as possible. Lawrence was last seen on the 19th. She was reported to have engaged in a series of short-term relationships often conducted on a concurrent basis. Although convicted of only two murders Halliwell has been linked to many other violent offences against women involving assaults, rapes, disappearances and murders. Wow, I didnt know that she started to distance herself from those friends and picked a new place to hang out at its really odd. Comments are more than welcome. Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. Im not sure what it was about Claudia that caught the public attention so much but, unfortunately, I dont think shes alive and probably wasnt for very long after going missing. "I will do everything in my power to ensure people keep searching for my beloved and precious daughter.". Claudia Lawrences mother appeals for help 13 years after disappearance, Claudia Lawrence: police find no new clues in lake search, Police search quarry near York for Claudia Lawrence remains, Claudia Lawrence: timeline of her disappearance, Claudia Lawrence: renewed call for information on woman missing since 2009, Father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence dies at 74, Claudia Lawrence case fits behaviour pattern of Christopher Halliwell. The Times reported that evidence shows her mobile phone was active near her home four hours after her disappearance, having failed to turn up for work at York University ten years ago on March 19, 2009. After moving to Heworth in 2007, Lawrence would regularly spend evenings at The Nag's Head pub[1] close to her home. [31], The new investigation, led by Detective Dai Malyn, made a number of arrests. Although the police have treated Lawrence's case as that of murder, with various people arrested but later released, her fate is unclear. : What really happened? The 35-year-old worked as a chef at the University of York and was reported. The first pictures of Claudia Lawrence's home were released by Joan in February 2017, who showed how the house had barely been touched since her daughter vanished. I'm now on TikTok, hope to see you there! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The portrayal of her has definitely harmed the investigation . [51], Lawrences disappearance caused difficulty arising out of her family's inability to manage her assets and liabilities. Lawrence's father was a prosperous solicitor. As for the area I am from Yorkshire and have visited York frequently, its generally a real nice and safe area, attracts a lot of tourists. leaving her mum devastated that she may never find out what happened to her daughter. Claudia was last heard from on March 18, 2009, with reports that she was last seen walking towards her home on Heworth Road. For a privately educated daughter of a country solicitor, Claudia had some unusual acquaintances and this remains the only missing person case where I have been warned off or threatened - not once but twice". Also, all of her belongings were found untouched in her house, so its highly unlikely that she had been planning something. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. She was pursuing a degree in liberal studies at that time and looked forward to having a wonderful time in college. In October 2019 her mum slammed the peanuts 40,000 budget to probe murder suspect Christopher Halliwell. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. All of a sudden the British public were picking up newspapers seeing all of these unsavoury details about relationships Claudia had with married men. Nobody wanted to talk, a number of them were married and obviously they didn't want their wives to find out. [9], The North Yorkshire Police (NYP) was contacted at around 2 pm on 20 March in order to report Lawrence as a missing person. Mr Fox said some of the information received by the force appears extremely interesting and sparks a whole new line of investigation, and he urged anyone providing this information to get back in touch with as much detail as possible. [7] At this point Cooper became alarmed and contacted mutual acquaintances including George Forman, landlord of The Nag's Head, to obtain information concerning her possible whereabouts. Her family were furious and said that it was all lies. This case has a lot of complexity to it but I truly believe that those who call themselves Claudias Best Friends are involved in this case and they know exactly what happens to poor Claudia. I dont believe they were as close of friends as a few of them make out to have been. Det Supt Dai Malyn said: It remains the case that we strongly suspect key and vital information is being withheld that could provide the breakthrough that we all want to see, not least Claudias heartbroken family. [3], Lawrence enjoyed a comfortable childhood and was privately educated at the York College for Girls. Picture credit: It didn't help matters when the investigators kept saying that she had a ''secret life''. 35-year-old Claudia Lawrence, of York, went missing 11 years ago About Claudia Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire on 27th February 1974. At one point, detectives believed she had been with 12 lovers over five years, with some of them married. I exclude the possibility of suicide simply because she had no reason for it. Picture credit: Well, according to the official timeline of Claudia's last known movements, she finished work as she normally would on the afternoon of the 18th of March 2009. I hope you'll join me in this post and give me your opinion on what you think may have happened to her. She was employed as a chef at the University of York's Goodricke College at the time of her disappearance. Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway stated that Lawrence "knew several people who live on the island" and that she may have "received job offers" while there. [22] In October, NYP revealed they were looking for the driver of a "rusty white van" who was seen trying to talk to women on Lawrence's route to work in the days before she disappeared. They make out that that were, but as soon as Claudia's back would be turned I bet she was getting talked and bitched about. [13] NYP received over 1,200 calls offering information. She had previously worked in a few pubs as a chef but the late hours began to take their toll on her so she was excited when she landed a job as a chef at the University of York. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. The force said members of the public were still coming forward with information. We may never know. The law was introduced after campaigning by Peter Lawrence with the support of MPs. Cooper attended the appointment but Lawrence did not. Sources close to the police investigation believe it suggests she was killed by someone she knew, perhaps in her social circle. Again, presumably on the instructions of the programme's lawyers, what wasn't discussed was the fact the pub was well known locally for some of the clientele being involved in the (cough) more "informal areas of the economy". [6] The general finding which emerged from the original enquiry was that Lawrence had probably been abducted and murdered shortly after leaving home on 19 March. He said: If you know something that could help us find Claudia, or those involved in her disappearance and suspected murder, please come forward. Anyway, what are your thoughts? He was released on police bail the following day[33] and then released from his bail without charge in November of that year. Cooper then attempted to contact Lawrence by telephone. Oh I agree with you. I agree I think she was having an affair with one of her best friends husbands and i believe he was arrested and released. But the young woman was never heard from again leaving officers desperately probing into her past, her relationships and her work life in an effort to find her. The law came into force in 2019 but Mr Lawrence died last month without ever knowing what happened to his daughter. Enter your password to log in. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. More than a month after the missing person's report was opened, police upgraded the investigation to suspected murder. Claudia Lawrence-13 Years,The Burden of Lies March 23 - Mr Lawrence describes his daughter's disappearance as a "living nightmare" during a news conference in York. She also fails to attend work. The dreadful lies told over Claudia Lawrence's . Joan Lawrence, is 76 and lives alone in North Yorkshire. [44] However, Razzell's husband was convicted of her murder and her family have stated that they have no doubt over his guilt and conviction. At 9:12pm a text was sent to her phone from a male friend in Cyprus, there was no response from Claudia. ''She Had Beautiful Legs, I wanted To Keep Those Legs.'' [16] Also in June, 100 days after his daughter went missing, Peter Lawrence launched a YouTube appeal for information. If there was foul play, I guess the guilty one was someone she knew, perhaps also a Local just like her. The 35-year-old chef vanished after failing to turn up for an early-morning shift at a University of York canteen on March 19, 2009. . This possibility was quickly dismissed. Personally I have never been to Yorkshire and I dont know anyone from that area, so I cant make any statements about that region. *edited as she did have her purse with her. 15 members Join group About Discussion More About Discussion About this group This private members group is about ONE thing. In August and September 2021 police engaged in the Lawrence case searched Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, a wooded area around 8 miles (13km) north-east of York city centre. In June 2019, ten years after Claudia's disappearance, the UK Government introduced the Guardianship (Missing Person's) Act 2017, informally known as 'Claudia's Law'. Absolutely brilliant article! Probably much less well-known ones? The two were reported to have been on friendly terms and he had often given her lifts in his car to and from work. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Could it be the person who abducted her or murdered her? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Using what were described as "advanced techniques not available in 2009",[30] the MCU found additional fingerprints and a man's DNA on a cigarette end in her car. A detective investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence 12 years ago has said it is not too late for people to come forward and stop the unrelenting anguish caused to the chefs loved ones. They also found a male's DNA in her car on a ciggarette and some additional fingerprints but nothing came of this either. Please do the right thing, come forward and speak to me.. He also alluded to the fact that the police kept the location of the phone back. DRAMATIC drone footage yesterday showed cops trawling a fish pond in the search for Claudia Lawrence - as a source insisted: "The answer lies local." Police were spending a third day scouring the flooded quarry and surrounding woodland in a bid to solve the 12-year-old mystery. There were people taken in for questioning and some were arrested and let go. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 22:18. Its been over ten years since the 35-year-old woman who worked as a Chef at the University of York mysteriously disappeared. Claudias Law otherwise known as the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 came into force on July 31, 2019. I hoped that she would be found safe and well. The original NYP investigation of Lawrence's disappearance considered various possibilities, including: One critical piece of evidence was that Lawrence's mobile phone remained on until 12:10pm on 19 March, at which time it was deliberately switched off. They know we're her body is and what happened that night. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Claudia Lawrence was last seen in March 2009, with questions about her disappearance still left unanswered, Convicted killer Christopher Halliwell may be linked to six other murders, including the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence, New CCTV in Claudia Lawrence case six years on. She was probably going to see someone that night. Instead of taking OCallaghan home Halliwell drove her to a secluded place where he murdered her. I get an impression the recent police on this case had worked out whats gone on but no evidence as of yet. The search for Claudia Lawrence is being hampered by the withholding of vital information, police have said 10 years after she was last seen. Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence was born on the 27th of February 1974 in Malton, North Yorkshire, England. I tend to think that something happened between 10PM and midnight on the 18-th of March, 2009. The hours at her new job suited her fine as she started early and would be finished by lunchtime. On the tenth anniversary of her disappearance cops admitted that the search for Claudia was hampered by the withholding of vital information. Her family made an emotional plea for help days after she was last seen. She sent a final text message from her mobile phone at 8:23pm and a final incoming text was received at 9:12pm. A group of officers were sent to Cyprus to talk to some of the people who knew her including the man who sent her the text on the 18th of March. [7][8] The two men found the house to be in an orderly state. And yes, I will definitely check out the Facebook group. They were not her true friends. The mystery discovery was made by a member. The murderer abducted and killed his second known victim on March 19, 2011 exactly two years after Claudia vanished. Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, the new senior investigating officer on the case, said he believes several people know, or have suspicions about, what happened to the 35-year-old when she went missing in York in 2009. After five weeks NYP upgraded the enquiry from a missing person one to one of suspected murder.[10]. The search was reportedly prompted by new evidence although police would not state what that new evidence was. The law would allow for a guardian to be appointed to manage the affairs of a person who has been missing for 90 days or more. Previously, families could only take over the financial affairs of a missing person if they were declared dead under the Presumption of Death Act 2013. The law would allow for a guardian to be appointed to manage the affairs of a person who has been missing for 90 days or more. He said: If you know something that could help us find Claudia, or those involved in her disappearance and suspected murder, please come forward. [20] It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence was from a man who was on the island. NYP was initially slow to act on grounds that Lawrence was not a vulnerable person and there was no obvious evidence of violence. [24] On 24 March, land near to a children's play area, near a muddy farm track, was searched, and on 25 March the search was relocated to a field near to the university, an area of land which is bordered by a playing field and student accommodation. I think other people do as well, but don't want to end up dead. For other inquiries, Contact Us. More to the point, in the light of there being no-one brought to justice in the 12 years, there are still one or more people at large in York or maybe somewhere else now who do know what has happened to Claudia and where she is and potentially remain a threat to the communities in which they and we live.. A DECADE on from the day Claudia Lawrence was last seen alive, the detective heading up the investigation to find her believes answers still lie in Her mother later reported that Claudia sounded ''cheerful and relaxed''. Most murder victims know their killer. It is notable that OCallaghan was murdered by Halliwell on 19 March 2011 and her body was concealed. On 19 March, Lawrence was scheduled to start work at 6 am. Because of the newspaper articles and the rumours flying around, the arrests of the men and all the talk of older married men, a lot of the public lost sympathy and interest in the case and it went cold and now here we are 11 years later. York was always seen as this lovely, safe picturesque city and to hear that someone had gone missing there was quite a shock and for Claudia's family and friends, they were completely dumfounded as well as worried sick. The fact the they also arrest groups means they probably have a really good idea of what happened but dont want to release too much information to the public. I was burgled twice in my second year so I gave some negative memories and can definitely see this kind of disappearance happening. Lawrence's handbag containing her purse, bank cards and passport was in the house. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. (Peter Lawrence with his daughter Claudia. Click here to upload yours, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, GMB's Kate Garraway reveals crippling cost of caring for her husband Derek, Stephen Bear 'broke behind bars' as his company is shut down before he's jailed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on heathland, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. News and entertainment worth sharing York and North Yorkshire. The search for Claudia Lawrence is being hampered by the withholding of vital information, police have said 10 years after she was last seen. Do you know if there were any other mysterious disappearances around that time? Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. Luckily her dad had continued paying the mortgage but hadn't had any tenants etc all in the hope she'd come back and still have somewhere to live. If you are in the UK and happen to have any information about this case, please pass it on to the police (no matter how small) by dialling 101 (North Yorkshire Police), select option 1 and pass the details onto the Force Control Room, quoting ''Claudia Lawrence''. She was employed as a chef at the University of York 's Goodricke College at the time of her disappearance. Lawrence's solicitor father Peter campaigned for the law to be modified in order to allow the appointment of guardians for the affairs of missing people. Campaigners say this is a huge step forward in recognising the responsibilities placed on relatives when someone disappears and the current legal difficulties in obtaining permission to act on their behalf.