Heartbreaking last photo shared by Victoria Taylor revealed as body found in search for missing mother
This is the heartbreaking last photo that Victoria Taylor shared just days before she vanished without a trace.
This is the heartbreaking last photo that Victoria Taylor shared just days before she vanished without a trace.
Ms Taylor, 34, was last seen on September 30 at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, where she lived with her fiancé and two-year-old daughter.
Detectives who have spent the last three weeks searching for the missing mother today revealed that they have found a body in the River Derwent, close to where she was last seen.
On September 19, the care home nurse shared a poignant photo on Facebook of her cuddling her two-year-old daughter.
Just 11 days before going missing, Ms Taylor and her daughter could be seen smiling on what appeared to be a holiday, with a swimming pool and sun loungers in the background.
Ms Taylors fiancé, Matthew Williams, had previously revealed the couple were due to get married, but had not set a date, having just returned from their first family holiday in Majorca.
Victoria Taylor shared a sweet photo of her cuddling her two-year-old daughter days before she went missing
In another photo of the pair, Ms Taylor is seen playing with her daughter on a swing in a playground
And in this heartwarming photo, the mother and daughter are seen feeding the ducks in a park
It comes as a body was found in the search for Ms Taylor (pictured) who was last seen at her home in Malton at 9am on September 30 prompting a huge search operation
Victoria Taylor left home around 9am on September 30 and was seen on CCTV at a BP garage at 11.35am. She was seen inside the garage wearing a camo hat and a Adidas coat
Friends had commented on the photo of Ms Taylor and her daughter, with one saying Such a cutie, lovely pic and another writing So sweet!.
Other photos shared on Ms Taylors Facebook paint the picture of a caring mother who can be seen lovingly gazing at her daughter, playing with her on a playground swing, and feeding the ducks together.
It comes as police revealed a devastating update in their search for Ms Taylor as North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox confirmed the discovery of a body in the River Derwent.
Her family had previously told how sick and distraught they felt and how they were trying to maintain a sense of routine for her young daughter during a difficult time.
But the news today appeared to confirm their worse fears as officers said the body had been found near to Ms Taylors belongings.
Assistant Chief Constable, Wayne Fox, told a press conference at Fulford police station in York: Today we have recovered a body in connection with the search for Victoria Taylor.
The police underwater search team made the discovery at 11.45am this morning in the River Derwent near to where Victorias items were recovered.
Ms Taylor left her home around 9am on Monday, September 30, with her partner Matthew and their two-year-old daughter. She was Facetiming siblings.
The couple 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.
She is believed to have been heading towards a community library.
She was captured on CCTV buying a bottle of Dr Pepper and a bottle of water at a nearby BP garage at 11.35am and at Malton bus station at 11.53am.
Ms Taylor, who was originally from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, then walked past a childrens play park before joining a path running alongside the Derwent.
Police quickly ruled out any suggestion of a third party being involved in her disappearance and concentrated their search on a stretch of water close to where some of the mothers belongings, including a rucksack and a camouflage cap, were found on a riverbank.
Speaking today at a press conference outside York Police Station, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox (Pictured) confirmed the tragic discovery of a body
A body has been found after the mother-of-one was last seen alive three weeks ago (Pictured with her brother Joe)
Victoria Taylor pictured with her husband-to-be Matthew. The father previously issued a tearful plea for her to return
Victoria Taylor with her fiance Matthew and their two-year-old daughter
Victoria Taylor was due to marry her fiancé Matthew, but they had not set a date, having just returned from their first family holiday in Majorca
Emma Worden and Heidi Baker, sisters of missing mother Victoria Taylor, 34, discussed their torment two weeks ago amid the care home nurses disappearance
She was last spotted wearing blue jeans, a Adidas original puffer jacket with white stripes down the sleeves and a grey Jack Wills hooded jumper.
ACC Fox added: While todays outcome is not what anyone wished for, Victorias family have asked me to express thanks to those who supported North Yorkshire Police and the emergency services.
On October 4, her fiancé Matthew issued a plea for the dedicated mother to come home. Clutching their daughter, he broke down in tears as he said: I hope she comes back safely.
Staring lovingly at the child, he continued: Obviously, this one is missing her mam. We are all hoping she comes back.
She was dedicated to her job, dedicated to us, and we had just returned from a lovely holiday. It is just sad.
He continued: As soon as we reported her missing, knowing her very well we went looking around the area where the police had been.
Since then, with the weather and everything, I just want to be here for this one.
Police water search units seen scouring the river earlier on October 4
Malton town centre, where missing woman Victoria Taylor lives with her fiancé and daughter
Police searching the River Derwent in Malton using sonar equipment as they search for missing on October 7
Officers from the Police Regional Marine and Underwater Search Unit searching the river on October 7
He continued: I am just heartbroken for this one. I know Vikki wanted [our daughter] to have the best opportunities in life - the opportunities she never had. It breaks my heart.
Cuddling his daughter at the time, he sobbed: We live in hope, dont we kid. She was such a good mother to this kid and I hope she can be a good mother again.
Last week her family said in a statement via North Yorkshire Police: There are no words for us to describe how we are feeling as its ever-changing.
We have to have some sort of normality for the children. As we know, Vixx is a mum but also an auntie and Halloween is one of her favourite seasons as she is the costume queen!
We would like to thank the police teams as they are doing all they can, and we understand that these things take time.
The local community is amazing, from putting up posters to the daily walks to search for Vixx. We would like to thank the special people, you know who you are.
The wider community on the Facebook page with over 10,000 people sharing Vixxs information and sending support has given us comfort. We continue to have hope, as it is all we have at this time.
Large missing posters were put up in the town centre and along the A64 road between York and Scarborough during the three-week search.
The River Derwent in Malton, North Yorkshire where police water search units were searching for mother-of-one Victoria Taylor
Victorias friend previously called her an inspiration and hailed all those who are continuing to help look for her (Pictured: A stretch of the River Derwent which is the focus of a police search)
Amateur sleuths were accused of hampering the search by peddling baseless theories online over the disappearance.
Psychics, mediums and TikTok armchair detectives have all come under fire for speculating on her whereabouts.
A North Yorkshire spokesperson said: Today we have recovered a body in connection with the search for missing 34-year-old Victoria Taylor.
The police underwater search team made the discovery at 11.45am this morning in the River Derwent close to where Victorias belongings were recovered.
Formal identification is yet to take place, but Victoria’s family have been informed of this development and understandably they are distressed by today’s news. Our specialist family liaison officers will continue to support them.
Victoria who is from Norton near Malton was reported missing on Tuesday 01 October. Since the initial report was received, we have carried out extensive searches to try and locate Victoria.
Two policemen are seen searching the River Derwent in kayaks during the three week search
A police officer searches the bank of the River Derwent in a kayak
Police teams hauling kayaks over the mud near the River Derwent on October 3
A poster appealing for help to find missing woman Victoria Taylor was placed in several areas of Malton including this shop window
The scale of investigation undertaken by North Yorkshire Police has provided us with a detailed understanding of Victoria’s key movements within the time parameters of her disappearance.
As part of our strategy, we issued multiple appeals to the public and media for information. I personally would like to thank the members of the public who responded and assisted us with our enquiries.
The disappearance of Victoria has understandably had a wider impact on the communities of Malton and Norton. Those closest to Victoria have felt an enormous amount of heartache in the days after she went missing and have acknowledged how grateful they are for the overwhelming support from the community.
Whilst today’s outcome is not what anyone would have wished for, Victoria’s family have asked me to say that they are devastated and would like some space to be able to process the news, and our thoughts remain with them at this time.
