A familys agonising wait for answers... and the torment of the internet sleuths: How disappearance of Victoria Taylor has chilling echoes of Nicola Bulley case as search enters EIGHTH day

Vile trolls are making slurs about the fiancé of missing mother Victoria Taylor in a disturbing echo of the cruel Internet conspiracy theories that hampered the search for Nicola Bulley.


Vile trolls are making slurs about the fiancé of missing mother Victoria Taylor in a disturbing echo of the cruel Internet conspiracy theories that hampered the search for Nicola Bulley. 

Churchgoer Matthew Williams is being targeted by self-described social media sleuths as police today continue the search for his 34-year-old bride-to-be a week after she first went missing from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire. 

A Facebook group set up to find the young mother has been posting regular updates on the underwater search of the River Derwent and recently criticised armchair observers for pointing the finger at her partner.

In a documentary last week, Ms Bulleys partner Paul Ansell recalled receiving unsolicited direct messages from trolls after the mother of two vanished in January last year while walking her dog along the River Wyre in Lancashire.

The 45-year-olds body was later found in the river and her death ruled as accidental, but only after three weeks of searching that saw Mr Ansell repeatedly bombarded false claims that he played a role in her disappearance. 

The fiancé of missing Victoria Taylor, Matthew Williams (pictured left) has been targeted by vile trolls

The fiancé of missing Victoria Taylor, Matthew Williams (pictured left) has been targeted by vile trolls 

A police kayaker continues the search for Ms Taylor today on the River Derwent

A police kayaker continues the search for Ms Taylor today on the River Derwent 

The presence of online trolls is a disturbing echo of the problems caused by cruel Internet conspiracy theories who hampered the search for Nicola Bulley

The presence of online trolls is a disturbing echo of the problems caused by cruel Internet conspiracy theories who hampered the search for Nicola Bulley

Ms Taylors friend Charlotte Cundill hits out on Facebook at mediums and psychics

Ms Taylors friend Charlotte Cundill hits out on Facebook at mediums and psychics 

I was getting direct messages from people that Ive never met. They dont know me, they dont know us, they dont know Nikki, he told the BBC in The Search for Nicola Bulley. 

They know nothing about us. Just messages like you b******. We know what you did. You know you cant hide Paul, that kind of stuff.

Discussing the impact social media had, he went on to say: It wasnt a huge part of our lives. But yeah, when you experience something like this, you realise what a huge monster it can be, I guess.

The search for Ms Taylor is now entering its eight day, with friends setting up a group on Facebook to help find her.

One of those friends is Charlotte Cundill, who reminded its 5,500 followers to refrain from speculating. 

Mediums and psychics are not welcome on page. We need facts and facts only right now, she wrote. 

Ms Cundill added in another recent post: Remember its such a busy weekend in town this weekend. Please keep up the searching and updating.

Can I please ask that the questions STOP, questions like where was she last seen, what was she wearing, does she drive ...

Police in kayaks are today continuing to search a stretch of the River Derwent in Malton near the home Ms Taylor shares with her fiancé Matthew Williams and their two-year-old daughter Nancy. 

Last week, Mr Williams called on his bride-to-be to come home to Nancy and be the mum that you know you are and can still be.

He said while tearfully clutching his daughter: All she wanted was to give this bairn the best. She didnt have the best of upbringings and she wanted to give this child a better one.

The couple had recently returned from a family holiday in Majorca.  

Ms Taylor (pictured with Mr Williams) was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, at 9am on Monday

Ms Taylor (pictured with Mr Williams) was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, at 9am on Monday

CCTV footage from Monday at 11.35am shows Ms Taylor inside a BP garage wearing a camo hat and a blue Adidas coat

CCTV footage from Monday at 11.35am shows Ms Taylor inside a BP garage wearing a camo hat and a blue Adidas coat

Police kayakers heading out onto the water in Malton this morning

Police kayakers heading out onto the water in Malton this morning 

A policeman scours the banks of the river during the search for the missing mother of one

A policeman scours the banks of the river during the search for the missing mother of one 

Police last week released CCTV footage that was captured at 11.35am on Monday at a BP garage in Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton. It shows the 34-year-old mother inside the shop wearing a camouflage cap and a black Adidas coat. 

Some of her belongings were found by police along the riverbank of the River Derwent, including the camo cap she wore in the CCTV images as well as her rucksack, a salmon pink Vans brand.

Ms Taylor was seen at her home at 9am on Monday when she was Facetiming siblings.

Mr Williams and his fiancée then left with their daughter to visit his parents. Ms Taylor then left his parents house and did not return, her sister Heidi Baker said. 

A local lady saw her crossing the railway crossing near a Lidl store in Welham Road about 11.30 to 12 noon, heading towards the River Derwent.

A woman in a house near the play park saw her coming down the path leading to the river.

She was then seen by locals passing a local childrens play park, the Riverside Playground, and walking along a thickly overgrown path next to the river between 11.30am and noon. 

Following the discovery of Ms Taylors belongings, police have been carrying out extensive searches along the River Derwent. 

Victoria was due to marry her fiancé Matthew, but they had not set a date, having just returned from their first family holiday in Majorca

Victoria was due to marry her fiancé Matthew, but they had not set a date, having just returned from their first family holiday in Majorca

Drones have been used in the search while police in kayaks have also been seen on the river. 

An underwater team has also been involved while other officers have reviewed hours of CCTV from around Malton where the mother-of-one was last seen. 

Ms Taylors friends and family have also been searching the area and have said they will not give up on trying to find her.

One friend said: The majority of Malton and several other areas are searching for you. Im praying and hoping each and every day to hear good news. 

Any immediate sightings of Ms Taylor should be reported to police on 999.

Anyone with any information that could help the search, is urged to call 101 and quote reference 12240178710.

Источник: Daily Online

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