Nine people have been questioned in relation to her disappearance, Ms Lawrence's father, Peter, died earlier this year without knowing what happened to his daughter, Police Ms Lawrence was murdered but no body has ever been found, Police have been searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits. Mr Dales said a member of the public had found the floral tribute at a beauty spot on January 28. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. One Sky News journalist stated, "Claudia apparently lived a significant part of her life in secret. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Police officers met with Lawrence's father at her home later that day. Claudia's mum Joan, 78, told The Mirror: "I was contacted by police on Monday morning and told not to worry, but as a mum how can I not? February - Claudia's dad Peter dies without ever discovering what happened to his daughter, March - A fresh appeal is launched on the 12th anniversary of her disappearance, August 24 - Police confirm they are searching the gravel pits at Sand Hutton. Peter Lawrence, campaigner for families of missing people, has died without learning what happened to his daughter. The father of the missing chef Claudia Lawrence has died at 74 without learning what happened to his daughter after she disappeared more than a decade ago. "Not searching was not an option not for Claudia, not for her family, and not for the wider public.". [26] The search at Heslington was later considered to have been prompted by hoax information.[27]. JulyThe police investigation is scaled down from more than 100 officers to 16, then seven, after 770,000 was spent on the case. The 35-year-old University of York chef was last seen more than 12 years ago in March 2009, close to her home in Heworth, York. Its been 12 and a half years and I just need to know what has happened to Claudia. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [14][15] In early June 2009, a reconstruction of Lawrence's last known movements was featured in an appeal on BBC One's Crimewatch. It's an unusual situation for a member of the public to come across something like this.". Distraught Joan Lawrence, 76, said it was impossible for cops to investigate convicted killer Halliwell with "such a small amount of money". [23] On 24 March 2010, NYP began searching areas of Heslington in York, based on new information received "in the last few days". [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. On 13 May 2014, a 59-year-old man was arrested by NYP on suspicion of Lawrence's murder. Lawrence, who was 35 and worked as a chef at the University of York, was reported missing on 18 March 2009 after she failed to turn up for an early morning shift. AprilAmendments to guardianship legislation, known as Claudias law, are approved by the House of Lords, following campaigning by Peter Lawrence and Missing People. A huge search was launched with hundreds of officers and locals involved. Photo evidence of the tribute shows a small bouquet of flowers placed next to a laminated missing person's photo of Claudia. Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence. Ms Lawrence doesn't turn up for her 6am shift as a chef at the University of York - a walk of several miles from her house. One hopes somebody has given some sort of information and it's not just sending police running up a garden path. He is released on police bail and eventually released without charge on November 17 2014. Although that is not critical since she might have passed out of camera view or used a parallel street. His death comes 12 years after his daughter vanished in the . The force has said underwater search teams would also take part in evidence-gathering efforts. She spent her early life with her father Peter (died 2021),[2] mother Joan and older sister Ali. Read about our approach to external linking. A spokesman for Claudias family confirmed that the note was found in January, before being handed to police. All rights reserved. There is also a separate note that says "god bless her" on one side of the page. They began the fresh search six miles from where Claudia went missing 12 years ago due to several reports of information which all pointed to the area of Sand Hutton. She was reported to have engaged in a series of short-term relationships often conducted on a concurrent basis; she was reported to have had a number of "covert sexual relationships" with men, some of whom were married or in relationships. She was 35 when she vanished as she walked to work for a6am shift in March, 2009. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. SeptemberPolice search the biology department of the University of York. [4] Lawrence was discreet about this and her family knew little about her relationships with men. North Yorkshire Police said the search, covering an area of woodland and two lakes popular with anglers, could last for several days. Pleased it's happening, but sad it's having to happen in the first place.". Dad Peter reported her missing the next day when she failed to arrive at the University of York for her job as a chef. The investigation was also dampened by a lack of CCTV around Claudia's home as well as the fact she had no social media profile or smartphone when she vanished. Mr Dales said he was giving the press conference because Peter, before his death, had asked him to keep Claudia in 'public lights' and ensure she was not forgotten. Peter Lawrence, a retired solicitor and campaigner for the families of missing people, died on Thursday in St Leonards Hospice in York after a brief illness, his family said in a statement. | ITV National News Dogs, divers, forensic archaeologists and specialist search experts were called in to scour the beauty spot. He complained that the police had excavated a section of the cellar floor of his pub. Lawrence's father Peter, a solicitor, campaigned for the law to be modified in order to allow the appointment of guardians for the affairs of missing people. 18 MarchLawrence is last seen at 3.05pm walking towards her home on Heworth Road in Heworth, near York. He said they had posted a report about this on the findclaudia website and had also informed North Yorkshire Police. [43] At the end of the search detective Wayne Fox, senior investigating officer in the Lawrence case, stated that nothing significant had been found. North Yorkshire Police said this afternoon that theperson who left the item hadbeen identified as a spiritualist and they hadbeen spoken to by the investigation team. Peter Lawrence, a retired. The investigation centred around construction of a "rogue's gallery" of the men she had been involved with. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Their main task, she said, would be to decide upon the relevance of any recovered items, and to ask: "What do you send for testing and what questions are you then actually answering?". NYP was initially slow to act on grounds that Lawrence was not a vulnerable person and there was no obvious evidence of violence. Comments have been closed on this article. "Information is going to find the answers here. "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 lake is being searched by police investigating the suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence, the 35-year-old chef whose disappearance has remained unsolved since 2009 . Police investigating the disappearance of York University chef Claudia Lawrence have begun a new search in gravel pits eight miles from her home, 12 years after she went missing. MarchNorth Yorkshire police say they are carrying out DNA analysis of a partial profile found on a cigarette in a car. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. [13] NYP received over 1,200 calls offering information. Claudia Lawrence: New police search in gravel pits eight miles from home of missing York University chef. The former solicitor described seeing the legislation progress through parliament as an absolutely marvellous feeling and received an OBE for his campaigning in 2018. They also closed a road outside York Biotech Campus, which sits between the flooded gravel pits and the busyA64, and is about nine miles from Claudias former home in York. April 22 - Three more men, all in their 50s and from the York area, are arrested on suspicion of murder and are released on bail. "We then consulted a number of national experts in various different disciplines and concluded that we could not discount the possibility that Sand Hutton Gravel Pits could have a major relevance in explaining what happened to Claudia. Claudias dad, Peter Lawrence OBE, passed away last year after campaigning for years to get justice for his daughter. This possibility was quickly dismissed. Claudia Lawrence, 35, went missing in 2009 and has never been found (Picture: PA) In 2021, police drained a lake at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, near York, in the search for the missing. Police believe she was murdered, but her body has never been found. Nine people have been questioned, but no charges have ever been brought. Lawrence was considered punctual and reliable by her employer. It never goes away. After five weeks NYP upgraded the enquiry from a missing person one to one of suspected murder.[10]. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. 19 March Reported missing. Claudia. She also fails to attend work. "Given that situation as well, I'd like to hope that people might be forthcoming with information. October 29 - A new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is announced as police launch a fresh review of the case. Lawrence's family became increasingly insistent that she must have been abducted. Police believe she was murdered but no body has ever been found. Claudias Law otherwise known as the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 came into force on July 31, 2019, allowing families of missing loved ones the ability to take control of their financial affairs in their absence. On that occasion, around 30 cops were involved in combing the popular fishing site for clues, which included trimming back woodland near the two lakes. Peter Lawrence, who was 74, died on Thursday at St Leonard's Hospice in York following a short illness, his family said in a statement. Nine people have been arrested or interviewed under caution in connection with the investigation. The force concentrated ona tennis court-sized areawhere they cut down small trees and appeared to take top soil for testing. Earlier this year, Mr Fox repeated the force's belief that several people know, or have suspicions about, what happened to the 35-year-old. It is notable that OCallaghan was murdered by Halliwell on 19 March 2011 and her body was concealed. Mr Lawrence, 74, died last February without ever knowing what happened to Claudia. ", Man near alley 'still key' in Claudia case, Plans to reopen Victorian quarry in Yorkshire mired by concerns over lorries, Malton crew called to fire in garden in early hours, Yorkshire coast route from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby named one of the best coastal walks in the UK by experts, Vehicle fire on major road through North Yorkshire - road reopens, Ryedale gears up for the King's Coronation, Beautiful vintage motorbike goes under the hammer for a great cause, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Police divers scoured a popular fishing spot in a fresh search for Claudia. Read about our approach to external linking. A 10,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the conviction of those responsible. Editors' Code of Practice. Mr Lawrence spearheadeda nationwide search for his daughter Claudiawhich cost police around 1 million over the last decade. Martin Dales, a friend of Mr Lawrence, said: "This is the first really concrete thing that's happened since Peter died in February so that in itself is quite a milestone. It's an unusual situation for a member of the public to come across something like this.". "Something must have happened to stir this up. The 35-year-old worked as a chef at the University of York and was reported missing on 18 March 2009 after she failed to turn up for an early morning shift. A spokesman for Claudias family confirmed that the note was found in January, before being handed to police. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. Claudia Lawrence, who was working as a chef at the University of York at the time of her disappearance, was last seen on the afternoon of 18 March, 2009. MayAbout 20 officers search a property in the hamlet of Ellerton, approximately 10 miles from York. A fresh appeal for answers about missing Claudia Lawrence has been made on the eve of the anniversary of her disappearance. In June 2013, NYP announced the 300,000 creation of a new Major Crime Unit (MCU), set up to ease the burden on day-to-day policing. The Bill, which came into force in July 2019, allows the family of a missing person to apply to the court for guardianship of that person's estate 90 days after the disappearance. March 23 - Mr Lawrence describes his daughter's disappearance as a "living nightmare" during a news conference in York. The disappearance remains unexplained and is now treated by North Yorkshire Police as suspected murder. Many theories have been put forward over the years - including Claudia may have been trafficked to Amsterdam or moved to Cyprus but police have found no evidence of either. He claims to be a psychic, posted a sketch of the moment he claims Lawrence was murdered on his website, and was allegedly responsible for laying a wreath at her home each Christmas. [47][48] Nevertheless, some observers believe that the NYP's focus on Lawrence's lifestyle and social circle may have been misguided. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, New search shocking - Claudia Lawrence mum, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules'. View our online Press Pack. There are clearly many parts that make up the jigsaw, and after 13 years it is high time the truth becomes clear and the public's vigilance in reporting information is vital. 2023 BBC. The probe has cost more than 1.5million, but the operation has been scaled back over the years. The 35-year-old was witnessed walking. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. DETECTIVES investigating the death of missing Claudia Lawrence have been handed a floral tribute claiming that she is in the water of a beauty spot. She seems to have accepted this offer. [45] In 2018 highly-regarded miscarriage of justice organisation Inside Justice investigated the Razzell case (and the alleged links to Halliwell) as part of a BBC documentary, Conviction, but it concluded that the conviction was safe and stated there was nothing linking Halliwell to the crime other than speculation. Ms Lawrence, a 35-year-old chef, was last seen on 18 March 2009 and, although detectives believe she was murdered, her body has never been found. She was employed as a chef at the University of York's Goodricke College at the time of her disappearance. Disappearance of Claudia Lawrence Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence (born 27 February 1974) is an English woman who was last seen and heard from on 18 March 2009. Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox explained: "When we assessed these separate and independently-sourced pieces of information against the wealth of information already generated during the last 12 years, we found they correlated with other information pointing to the area of Sand Hutton. The manager took no further action. Thereafter nobody is known to have seen or heard from Lawrence.[1]. Police officers could be seen searching the undergrowth along a public bridleway through the forest. Police believe Lawrence. He said: "While I cannot say at this stage how long the search may take, I do anticipate that a number of specialist officers and staff, including underwater search teams, and forensic experts are likely to be at this location for a number of days. MayPolice arrest a 59-year-old man on suspicion of Lawrences murder. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I dont know what to think. [9], The North Yorkshire Police (NYP) was contacted at around 2 pm on 20 March in order to report Lawrence as a missing person. The changes would make it easier for the families of people missing for more than 90 days to deal with their personal and financial affairs. This indicates that the phone itself did not leave the local area. Her mobile phone a silver Samsung D900 and blue and grey Karrimor rucksack in which she carried her chefs whites, are missing and are never found. University chef Ms Lawrence was last seen at 15.05 on Wednesday 18 March 2009 walking towards her home on Heworth Road, York. 2023 BBC. "The fact that they are prepared to invest all these resources in a search for days or weeks tells me they think the information they are acting upon is pretty good," he added. His friend Martin Dales said there were people "at large" who had information. Chef Claudia, 35, was last seen on the evening of March 18 . He said he did not know whether the message was of any validity or significance, and said this was a matter for the police. He said it was vital that people came forward and reported anything they knew or had found, such as the floral tribute, in case they were of significance. "Information is going to find the answers here. The message was found by a member of the public late last month and could provide clues as to the whereabouts of the chef who was last seen 13 years ago. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Her father reported her missing on 20 March. Tourism workers claim to remember seeing Lawrence in Cyprus in Paphos in March. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Claudia has been missing for twelve years, The floral tribute was found at a North Yorkshire beauty spot, Officers do not believe that the flowers are of any significance to the investigation, The chef vanished and no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance, North Yorkshire Police drained a lake last year in the search, Claudia's dad Peter died last year withouth knowing what happened to his daughter, a nationwide search for his daughter Claudia, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).