University chef Ms Lawrence was last seen at 15.05 on Wednesday 18 March 2009 walking towards her home on Heworth Road, York. Det Supt Dai Malyn blames liars for holding back the investigation, saying: I am convinced, and I know people have lied to us. MarchThe Sunday Express claims Lawrence was planning a new life in Cyprus before her disappearance. She later attended a local catering college and qualified as a chef. Her mother described Lawrence's mood as normal and relaxed. Claudia Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire in 1974. "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.". [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". 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. The force added that they remain committed to finding out what happened to her, and pleaded with anyone who had information to come forwards. Mr Lawrence spearheadeda nationwide search for his daughter Claudiawhich cost police around 1 million over the last decade. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. No charges are brought because of lack of evidence. [30] On the fifth anniversary of the disappearance, a new appeal was made on Crimewatch, which aired on 19 March 2014. For other inquiries, Contact Us. FebruaryPeter Lawrence dies aged 74, not knowing what happened to his daughter. Cooper then attempted to contact Lawrence by telephone. Peter Lawrence in 2019, holding a photograph of his daughter Claudia Lawrence. The two women discussed celebrating the forthcoming Mother's Day. Police are searching a flooded quarry near York for the remains of the 35-year-old, missing since 2009. 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. Dad Peter reported her missing the next day when she failed to arrive at the University of York for her job as a chef. Officers marked off a 700-foot stretch of land near the gravel pits and dug up a single three foot deep hole, while about 40 officers searched the area with sticks and a team of underwater divers searched the lakes. 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. "Information is going to find the answers here. Nine people have been questioned, but no charges have ever been brought. Mr Lawrence, 74, died last February without ever knowing what happened to Claudia. Martin paid tribute to Mr Lawrence, with whom he had enjoyed a 40-year friendship, following the update. Police divers scoured a popular fishing spot in a fresh search for Claudia. View our online Press Pack. [43] At the end of the search detective Wayne Fox, senior investigating officer in the Lawrence case, stated that nothing significant had been found. Claudia, 35, went missing in 2009, and the tribute flowers were attached to a missing photo of the chef alongside a note which reads God bless her, she is in the water.. "It's the not knowing that's the worst part, it eats into you, the not knowing what's happened. 2023 BBC. He said last year: "I think about Claudia every day. MarchNorth Yorkshire police say they are carrying out DNA analysis of a partial profile found on a cigarette in a car. Police in York are searching a flooded quarry for the remains of Claudia Lawrence, who went missing in 2009. 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. It comessix months after the death ofher solicitor dad Peter, 74, who worked tirelessly to find her. A spokesman for Claudias family confirmed that the note was found in January, before being handed to police. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Police investigating the disappearance of York University chef Claudia Lawrence - who went missing in 2009 - have begun a new search in gravel pits eight miles from her home. He lived close to her home and had been a colleague of hers at the University of York. The force concentrated ona tennis court-sized areawhere they cut down small trees and appeared to take top soil for testing. The investigation was scaled down in 2017, leaving her father hugely disappointed and depressed. 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. Lawrence campaigned for Claudias Law, which established a new legal status of guardian of the affairs of a missing person, allowing families to act in the best interests of a loved one gone for 90 days or longer. Police believe she was murdered despite her body never being found. This possibility was quickly dismissed. [51], Lawrences disappearance caused difficulty arising out of her family's inability to manage her assets and liabilities. I. Claudia, 35, went missing in 2009, and the tribute flowers were attached to a missing photo of the chef alongside a note which reads God bless her, she is in the water.. A small number of items were recovered during the two-week operation in September, but nothing of any major significance was believed to have been found. She was employed as a chef at the University of York's Goodricke College at the time of her disappearance. 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? It's an unusual situation for a member of the public to come across something like this.". Peter then entered Claudia's home using his own key in company with George Forman. A number of people have been questioned in connection with her disappearance, but no charges have ever been brought. Although convicted of only two murders Halliwell has been linked to many other violent offences against women involving assaults, rapes, disappearances and murders. She has not been seen or heard from since. "I never thought this would get to 11 years, I'd have never believed we would be here, but unfortunately we are. A fresh appeal for answers about missing Claudia Lawrence has been made on the eve of the anniversary of her disappearance. 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. October - Claudia's mum slammed the peanuts 40,000 budget to probe murder suspect Christopher Halliwell. The 35-year-old has not been seen since she failed to turn up for work at the University of York in March 2009. The 35-year-old worked as a chef at the University of York and was reported. All rights reserved. A man seen near the home of missing Claudia Lawrence remains a key person to trace 10 years on, police have said. [34] In July 2014, NYP arrested Paul Harris, the landlord of The Acomb pub (since renamed as The Clockhouse pub) in York on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. "It's been quite a long time since the police has said anything new, because of course if you haven't got the information you haven't got anything new to say really. 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. That night she calls both of her parents and seems in good spirits. The 35-year-old University of York chef was last seen more than 12 years ago in March 2009, close to her home in . Her disappearance on her way to work at York University in 2009 has become one of the UK's most notorious cold cases. Campaigners say this is a huge step forward in recognising the responsibilities placed on relatives when someone disappears and the current legal difficulties in obtaining permission to act on their behalf. March - Nearly a decade on from her disappearance, Miss Lawrence has still not been found. Who is Washington Post columnist Gene Weingarten and why is he trending? Despite numerous appeals, searches, arrests and interviews, Claudia Lawrence's case remains unsolved, Peter Lawrence, seen here on the 10th anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, was a retired solicitor. Police previously said they strongly suspect the case is being hampered by the withholding of key and vital information. Ms Lawrence has been missing for 10 years having . North Yorkshire Police confirmed last September that they had drained a fishing pond at Sand Hutton gravel pits as part of the renewed search for Claudia. 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. However, a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The person who left the item has been identified as a spiritualist and they have been spoken to by the investigation team. Claudia Lawrence: DNA trawl for missing chef case suspect fails contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. On 13 May 2014, a 59-year-old man was arrested by NYP on suspicion of Lawrence's murder. During the course of the evening Lawrence spoke to both her father and mother on her mobile phone. Claudia Lawrence disappeared from York seven years ago "It has been an ongoing nightmare, particularly for parents Joan and Peter and sister Ali, as they wait for news of her whereabouts. He said: "He asked me to do this - to keep his daughter Claudia's name in public lights and not forgotten by the authorities looking for her. ", Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. MarchHoax calls start a four-day search in Heslington following the first anniversary of Lawrences disappearance. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Galloway indicated that the probable explanation for Lawrence's disappearance lay in her lifestyle, principally in the "complexity and mystery" of her relationships with men. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. He said he had been friends with Peter for nearly 40 years and shared his search for Claudia for 12 years, and missed him hugely. Read about our approach to external linking. MayAbout 20 officers search a property in the hamlet of Ellerton, approximately 10 miles from York. Whilst I am unable to disclose what brought us to this location I would like to stress that the searches you will see in the coming days are just one of several active lines of enquiry which are currently being investigated and pursued by North Yorks Police major investigation team in our efforts to establish what happened to Claudia and to identify any person for causing her harm.". 24 AugustPolice say they are searching Sand Hutton gravel pits, a popular spot for angling in Sand Hutton, a village eight miles north-east of York. Family spokesperson Martin Dales said the tribute was originally found on January 28. 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. 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. Both Peter and Claudia's mum Joan never gave up hope she was still alive - with her dad previously revealing the pain of not knowing "eats into him". "Information is going to find the answers here. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. "My own thoughts always come back to that she was probably abducted on her way to work. It was considered likely that her killer was a local man known to her. He died aged 74 in St Leonards Hospice, not knowing what happened to his daughter, after suffering from a short illness. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Joan Lawrence says "every single day is a nightmare" since her daughter's disappearance. Is climate change killing Australian wine? ", 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. 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. 'Claudia's Law' to help families of missing loved ones 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. Claudia Lawrence: Police search of gravel pits near missing chef's home over with 'nothing of obvious significance' found, Claudia Lawrence: Police drain lake in search for clues 12 years after disappearance, Claudia Lawrence: 'End the unrelenting anguish' and come forward, top officer tells witnesses, "I can confirm Claudia's family are aware this activity is taking place.". [38] The second investigation then ended having achieved little.