Gaynor Lord - latest: Tributes as police confirm body found in river is missing mother-of-three
Police confirmed body pulled from River Wensum on Friday following week-long search
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Tributes have begun to pour in for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord, whose body was found in the River Wensum on Friday.
Norfolk Police confirmed the results of the official identification, which took place on Sunday, in a statement that read: “Police can confirm the body of woman found in the River Wensum in Norwich on Friday has been formally identified as Gaynor Lord.”
They added that they have found no indications of any third-party involvement and early indications of her cause of death are “consistent with drowning.”
Her employer Jarrolds said that she would be “missed by all”, while floral tributes have been laid at the gates of Wensum Park.
Ms Lord went missing on Friday December 8, after she left work in Norwich over an hour early. She was seen on CCTV footage walking through the city towards Wensum Park, where her belongings were later found.
A family friend said her loved ones were left “distraught” after she disappeared, telling The Times: “Gaynor’s husband Clive is totally lost. He doesn’t understand at all what’s happened.”
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Mapped: Gaynor Lord’s last known movements
Norfolk Police confirmed on Monday that the body pulled out of the River Wensum on Friday was Gaynor Lord.
The mother-of-three had been missing for a week before she was found.
Her final known movements were captured on CCTV as she walked through Norwich city centre after leaving work over an hour early.
Tributes left for missing mother
Employer Jarrolds pay tribute to Gaynor Lord
Tributes have begun to pour in for mother-of-three Gaynor Lord, whose body was found in the River Wensum on Friday.
In a statement on social media, her employer Jarrolds said: “Our thoughts are with the family of Gaynor Lord at this extremely difficult time. As someone who worked within the store she will be missed by all and we would like to pass on our collective condolences.”
Police had taken advice from officers dealing with Nicola Bulley case
Police previously confirmed they consulted officers from Lancashire Constabulary who worked on the search for Nicola Bulley.
Ms Bulley’s body was found in the River Wyre in Lancashire on February 19.
The Lancashire force was criticised over its handling of that investigation and the disclosure of Ms Bulley’s personal information.
Gaynor Lord’s cause of death appears to be ‘consistent with drowning’
Missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord’s cause of death appears to be “consistent with drowning”, police have said.
A body recovered from the River Wensum on Friday has now been formally identified as the 55-year-old.
Police said Ms Lord’s cause of death has not been confirmed, but early indications are consistent with drowning.
The force said it will await a Home Office toxicology report before confirming her cause of death.
Ms Lord’s body was formally identified on Sunday, subject to formal inquest proceedings taking place.
In pictures: Floral tributes left for Gaynor Lord
Video: Friend of Gaynor Lord details last call
A friend of missing Norwich woman Gaynor Lord has detailed the last phone call she received from her on the day she was last seen.
Ms Lord, a mother of three, was reported missing in Norwich last Friday 8 December after failing to return home from work.
Julie Butcher received a call from Ms Lord at 2.15pm that day but had to cut it short to speak to a client.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Ms Butcher said: “I said could I call her back and she said ‘yes’.”
She later called Ms Lord but could not get through to her.
Ms Butcher said: “I wish I had never answered that call.”
Police ‘working hard’ to uncover reason for entering water
Missing Persons Expert Charlie Hedges analyses the case of Gaynor Lord after Norfolk Police discovered a body in a nearby river.
He told GB News: “It is important to retain an open mind. Police will be working very hard to understand her circumstances or background looking for any information which can point them towards the reason why she went in the water.
“Was it voluntary? They said they ruled out third parties but clearly, they would like to know as much as possible.”
He added he expects the information to be released into the public domain at an appropriate time.
Pictures recap: The search for Gaynor Lord
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