Peter (Claudia's father) sadly passed away earlier this year without fully getting to the bottom of what happened to his daughter despite years of tiresome searching. All we know about Claudia Lawrence, 12 years on from the day she vanished Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Thereafter nobody is known to have seen or heard from Lawrence.[1]. Unless we get information or intelligence to suggest that Claudia came to harm as a result of an opportunity taken by someone unconnected to her, me and the team still strongly believe the answer lies locally. On August 24, 2021, police began searching a quarry in York. Monday marks a decade since Lawrence, who was a. Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy said: "It is not for the want of trying that a breakthrough has not yet come, but rather the result of the continuing refusal of those who know what happened to Claudia to come forward and tell us the truth. Claudia Lawrence was last seen on the night of March 18 2009. Monday marks the tenth anniversary of the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. I have much less to do now and am supposed to work from home at least until the end of the quarantine anyway, so reading all this stuff about mysterious disappearances and discussing it with my gf seems somewhat interesting to me, at least its definitely not just a waste of time as I consider it self-development to some extent. After moving to Heworth in 2007, Lawrence would regularly spend evenings at The Nag's Head pub[1] close to her home. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The investigation itself was like searching for a needle in a haystack because although it's not right to judge someone on what they do in their private life (and Claudia certainly didn't deserve to be abducted, harmed or whatever happened to her) the police had to interview quite a number of men that Claudia had been involved with and that was a nightmare. Claudia's story was front page news and everyone wanted to know what happened to her and if she would ever be found. [5], Lawrence had holidayed several times in Cyprus, where she was believed to have explored job opportunities. The public was gripped by the whole situation. In my view, there are likely to be several people out there who either know or have strong suspicions as to what happened to Claudia. They considered it likely that she had decided to absent herself and would reappear after a few days. A lot of questions are really left unanswered in this investigation and the focus that was put on her private life by the press and the investigators during the investigation probably hindered the investigation more than it helped. It was like she had just vanished without a trace. Claudia's dad was 74 and died on February 11 at St Leonard's Hospice in York following a short illness, his family said in a statement. That Lawrence had been the victim of a chance encounter with a. Detectives soon began to favour this explanation. [28] In July 2013, NYP said the unit would assess several "stalled" cases when it opened in October, including Lawrence's disappearance. The dreadful lies told over Claudia Lawrence's . I agree I think she was having an affair with one of her best friends husbands and i believe he was arrested and released. A fresh appeal for answers about missing Claudia Lawrence has been made on the eve of the anniversary of her disappearance. They also found a male's DNA in her car on a ciggarette and some additional fingerprints but nothing came of this either. He was released on police bail the following day[33] and then released from his bail without charge in November of that year. Both of Halliwells victims died on the 19th. Claudia Lawrence: Mum appeals for answers on anniversary of The date was said to be significant to wannabe serial killer Halliwell whose former garden in Swindon was dug up by cops in the search for more victims. Agreed, the comment about a mysterious love life and arresting 6 different individuals means they must've had strong suspicions on who it was but lacked the evidence. This one isn't really much of a mystery anymore. Distraught Joan Lawrence, 76, said it was impossible for cops to investigate convicted killer Halliwell with "such a small amount of money". I dont know if this fact makes the case any unique, I think it probably does. 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 manager took no further action. The mystery discovery was made by a member. A 10,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the conviction of those responsible. Lawrence was last seen on the 19th. I went to University in York and I think I was in my final year when she went missing. [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. But in January 2017 officers said they were scaling back the probe, leaving her mum devastated that she may never find out what happened to her daughter. It looks, from various other sources, that she may have spent the evening with one of her lovers, and an argument or killing jealous rage resulted in her unfortunate demise. Claudia Lawrence police launch new search in gravel pits eight miles Nobody wanted to talk, a number of them were married and obviously they didn't want their wives to find out. As time went on, Claudia's family and friends never gave up appealing for information to help find her. Picture credit: It didn't help matters when the investigators kept saying that she had a ''secret life''. "Disappointing news though this is for Claudias family, we have not given up hope, and I do believe that one day we will be able to tell them what happened to Claudia.". It is not too late to come forward, says Claudia Lawrence case This matched with the left-handed smoker a witness professed to have seen around that time. She spoke to her mother that evening and made plans with her for Mother's Day which was that Sunday. Podcast Coming Soon!! I totally agree, its a case that often gets forgotten! If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and pass details to the Force Control Room, quoting "Claudia Lawrence". Distraught Joan Lawrence, 76, said it was impossible for cops to investigate convicted killer Halliwell with "such a small amount of money". Claudia Lawrence: timeline of her disappearance - the Guardian In my view, there are likely to be several people out there who either know or have strong suspicions as to what happened to Claudia. [21], Later in September, detectives made a search of an area of the University of York campus. 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. University chef Ms Lawrence was last seen at 15:05 on Wednesday 18. I think he disposed of the body in one of the building sites in York, or on somewhere on the Yorkshire Moors. Claudia has always been very close with her family and had a happy childhood. March 19 - Miss Lawrence's father, Peter, contacts North Yorkshire Police after his daughter fails to keep an arrangement to meet a friend at the Nags Head pub. A 10,000 reward was offered for anyone who could come forward with any information. Indications were that Lawrence had left the house normally to go to work at around 5am on the morning of Thursday 19 March, but had never arrived. "I will do everything in my power to ensure people keep searching for my beloved and precious daughter.". [17] In late August 2009, NYP and the Lawrence family used the annual Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire to publicise the campaign. 5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York YO1 7LD, Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby YO8 8NA. She was reported to have engaged in a series of short-term relationships often conducted on a concurrent basis. Claudia Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire in 1974. Finally, the most comprehensive, informative and very detailed article can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/what_happened_to_claudia , its pretty long and might probably seem a little bit hard to read to some people, however, its definitely worth reading because it tells us about Claudias childhood and social circle as well as her job. They even issued a statement saying "We know there are people who know what happened to Claudia, but they are keeping quiet." leaving officers desperately probing into her past, her relationships and her work life in an effort to find her. From there they continued their search onto a wooded area not far from this site. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Police have launched search in gravel pits in York for missing chef Claudia Lawrence, who vanished in 2009 Miss Lawrence failed to arrive for work at the University of York on March 18, 2009. She also fails to attend work. Tribute claiming Claudia Lawrence is 'in the water' found at - The Sun [30] CCTV footage, recovered in 2009, showed a silver Ford Focus hatchback car, manufactured between 1998 and 2004, driving along Heworth Road. Lawrence's handbag containing her purse, bank cards and passport was in the house. [23] On 24 March 2010, NYP began searching areas of Heslington in York, based on new information received "in the last few days". Cooper attempted to contact Lawrence again on the morning of 20 March, but again without success. Peter had a spare key for her house and was worried sick, he raced over to the house and his fears were realised when he found that Claudia was nowhere to be seen. Update in the Claudia Lawrence case. The 35-year-old worked as a chef at the University of York and was reported. October 29 - A new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is announced as police launch a fresh review of the case. 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. There is hope of an answer at last for Claudia Lawrence's loved ones Talk of her being abducted on her way to work, but after seeing pictures of a man walking past her home several times the night she sent her last texts, makes me wonder if she was lured outside her. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Oh I agree with you. This particular case is well-known in the UK and probably all over the world as well. 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. There were also swabs taken from her house years later (think the case was reexamined in 2013). One of the investigators/journalists was threatened (or told "to back off"). Like the rest of the public at the time, I read the news articles and watched the Crimewatch reports and I saw how some of the public's interest in the case went from sympathetic to lacking interest. Im sure most of you have heard of this case. What Happened to Claudia Lawrence? Morbidology Claudia Lawrence-13 Years,The Burden of Lies | Facebook Joan Lawrence has spoken to Sky News on the tenth anniversary of her daughter's disappearance. In late August 2021, Investigators began searching an area outside of York known as former gravel pits fishing lakes. Could it be the person who abducted her or murdered her? I have no idea or theory in this case and I do pray that it will be solved. Mr Fox, who took charge of the investigation in October following the retirement of Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, said: Today, on the 12th anniversary of her disappearance, our hearts go out to Claudias loved ones. [35] Other arrests were made later. She seems to have accepted this offer. Picture credit: Hi, I'm Jo, welcome to my true crime blog. She was employed as a chef at the University of York 's Goodricke College at the time of her disappearance. Claudia and Ali were obsessed with horses growing up and each of them had a pony which they adored. In 2007 Lawrence purchased a terraced cottage in the York suburb of Heworth, situated about three miles from her place of work. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/claudia-s-law-to-lift-families-of-missing-people-out-of-legal-limbo. Enter your password to log in. On 19 March, Lawrence was scheduled to start work at 6 am. I was burgled twice in my second year so I gave some negative memories and can definitely see this kind of disappearance happening. They know we're her body is and what happened that night. [40][41] Police drained one of the lakes on site to allow a fingertip examination of the lake's bed. Its been over ten years since the 35-year-old woman who worked as a Chef at the University of York mysteriously disappeared. Also, her personal life seems confusing to me. If we take a look at the most well-known unsolved peoples disappearances in the UK well see that the majority of those missing are boys and young men who could likely meet foul play due to the fact that most of them were last spotted in somewhat dodgy places/areas and at least a little far away from home. [7][8] The two men found the house to be in an orderly state. (A missing poster outside of Claudia's home in the early stages of the investigation. Claudia was A 35 Year old who enjoyed the company of middle aged men who were reasonably well off and in the main were already involved in a long term relationship, married or had a girlfriend.. In October 2019 her mum slammed the peanuts 40,000 budget to probe murder suspect Christopher Halliwell. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Halliwell killed O'Callaghan two years to the day later on March 18 2011. But those concerned were all released and none were charged.[36]. A few months and weeks prior to Claudias disappearance, she did start to distance herself from these people and she started to hang out at the Acomb pub more frequently than her local pub the nags head. (Claudia (far right) with her sister Ali (left) and mum Joan (centre). Claudia, on the other hand, was an adult woman and disappeared in the area she was local to. I also believe that she died shortly after her disappearance. I'm now on TikTok, hope to see you there! The book details the horrific murder of a successful business woman at the hands of her adulterous & envious husband. Claudia was last heard from on March 18, 2009, with reports that she was last seen walking towards her home on Heworth Road. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 22:18. Her parents say they dont know anything about that. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I tend to think that something happened between 10PM and midnight on the 18-th of March, 2009. leaving her mum devastated that she may never find out what happened to her daughter. [4] Lawrence was discreet about this and her family knew little about her relationships with men. That evening she spoke to her parents by telephone, making plans with her mother to spend Mother's Day together. Claudia Lawrence was last seen near her home in Melrosegate, Heworth, York, on the evening of March 18, 2009. . View our online Press Pack. This blog is dedicated to the late, best-selling authors, Reg Mckay, Ann Rule & my furbaby, Freddie Mercury. March 8 - Police say the CPS has decided the four men will not face charges. They all denied any involvement in Lawrence's disappearance. 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 . Police waiting for publics help in search for chef last seen in Heworth, York, on 18 March 2009. What happened to Claudia Lawrence who went missing 12 years ago I think other people do as well, but don't want to end up dead. 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. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Investigators were able to trace some more information from her phone (which was still missing) and established that she had spent a lot of time in a place called Acomb (which is another area of York) in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. A See more Private Although that is not critical since she might have passed out of camera view or used a parallel street. I think the newspapers had to backtrack massively too. [7], The independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers offered a reward of 10,000 to anyone providing information which would lead to the arrest and conviction of any person linked to the disappearance. They have endured unrelenting anguish and trauma throughout this time. This is a strange one for me as grew up in the same area and am familiar with this case. The only CCTV camera on Lawrence's most direct route to work was at the Melrosegate Post Office, and the recording from the morning of 19 March did not show Lawrence passing. One such case is the disappearance of Swindon teacher Linda Razzell on 19 March 2002 while walking to work. During that time, the smiling face of the York University chef has been . She also has a sister called Ali. On the eve of the 12th anniversary, Martin Dales, a friend of Mr Lawrence, said: Despite the exhaustive efforts of Claudias late father Peter, family and friends, and North Yorkshire Police, there are still no answers and it is tragic that Peter has died not knowing what has happened to her. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. There was insufficient evidence to bring charges. I think theres a pact going on between a group of her friends and this is the reason as to why no sign of Claudia or no evidence has been found. Also the fact that her phone was deliberately turned off kind of freaks me out if Im not mistaken, it was traced by the police and its location was discovered (it was several miles away from her place). 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. 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. 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. [46], In 2009 Halliwell was living in Swindon, Wiltshire, the location of the two murders he was convicted of. The only significant items missing were her mobile phone, a set of hair straighteners and a rucksack which she normally used to carry her chef's whites to and from work. Very good account and pointing out the medias role is a key thing. [13] NYP received over 1,200 calls offering information. This indicates that the phone itself did not leave the local area. Absolutely brilliant article! [20] It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence was from a man who was on the island. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. She loved socialising and loved having a drink with her friends in the local pubs around York or going to a nightclub. 15 members Join group About Discussion More About Discussion About this group This private members group is about ONE thing. The mother of missing Claudia Lawrence has said she is in "utter shock" over the new police search for her daughter. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The hours at her new job suited her fine as she started early and would be finished by lunchtime. Answers to find Claudia Lawrence lie in York, police say The police seem to know what happened and who was involved, they just don't have the hard evidence or witness cooperation to forward it to a prosecution. [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. | Part Three, The Deadly Cougar? . All of a sudden the British public were picking up newspapers seeing all of these unsavoury details about relationships Claudia had with married men. The car's brake lights come on as it approaches level with Lawrence's cottage. I don't think Christopher Halliwell is linked to this case at all. She had "a number of covert sexual relationships with men, some of whom were married before she disappeared". It baffles me. Police in York are searching a flooded quarry for the remains of Claudia Lawrence, who went missing in 2009. She was raised in the Hewton area of York by her father Peter Lawrence, a solicitor, and mother Joan. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. One Sky News journalist stated, "Claudia apparently lived a significant part of her life in secret. Claudia Lawrence-Who Took Her? - Medium After five weeks NYP upgraded the enquiry from a missing person one to one of suspected murder.[10]. [49][50] In regard to Halliwell's possible involvement Lawrence's mother stated "The police may not have proved he had anything to do with my daughters disappearance, but they havent disproved it either". Mother of missing Claudia Lawrence 'in shock' over new police search 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. I encourage anyone who has Facebook to join the group Claudia Lawrence- 11 years of lies because this group really does go deep into everything about this case. "The case will not be closed until those responsible for Claudias disappearance and, we believe, her murder, are brought to justice. 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 [51], Lawrences disappearance caused difficulty arising out of her family's inability to manage her assets and liabilities. Opinion | Can Deb Haaland Stay a Hero? - The New York Times I wonder what the purposes were. Instead of taking OCallaghan home Halliwell drove her to a secluded place where he murdered her. True Crime With Caledonian Kitty on YouTube! [25] Nothing of significance was discovered. There was a theory that Claudia may have had some trouble with one of the married men, maybe threatened to tell someone's wife or maybe the wife found out? The 35-year-old, who worked as a chef at the University of York, had spoken to. The newspapers however took a drastic turn from being sympathetic to trashing Claudia's private life. They were not her true friends. York is a beautiful city and one that I have visited many times. I know that its no ones business, but where did all those accusations of dating married men come from? 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. Generally any place has its advantages and disadvantages and I dont think that absolutely safe places exist, some towns/cities, areas, regions and/or countries probably tend to be safer than the others, thats it, but again, its highly likely that no place in the world is absolutely safe. It is 12 years since the 35-year-old went missing in York. [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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. On the tenth anniversary of her disappearance cops admitted that the search for Claudia was hampered by the withholding of vital information. 1.1M views 3 years ago Claudia Lawrence went missing in York, 2009. She supports the Missing People charity and makes her telephone number available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support others who have missing loved ones. At 9:12pm a text was sent to her phone from a male friend in Cyprus, there was no response from Claudia.