‘Mysterious bag’ clutched by missing mum Victoria Taylor ‘could hold key clue’ – as pals face ‘brief window’ in search
A “MYSTERIOUS bag” clutched by missing mum Victoria Taylor could hold a key clue – as pals face a “brief window” in their hunt for her.
Victoria, known to friends as Vixx, was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on Monday morning last week.
A desperate search has been ensuing since, with new CCTV of her last sighting revealed yesterday.
It shows mum-of-one Victoria at 11.53am on Monday, September 30, standing at Malton Bus Station on Railway Street.
The footage shows Victoria tightly clutching a large unidentified package.
After recovering the footage, detectives released images to the public as part of the plea for anyone who might be able to help with the investigation to come forward.
To date, this is the last confirmed sighting of Victoria and she is thought to have gone by a children’s play park before joining a muddy riverside path last Monday morning, after going missing.
Previously, police had released a CCTV capture of her at a BP garage, where Victoria bought a soft drink.
There is no evidence of “third-party” involvement in Victoria’s disappearance, cops said.
A local said: “What’s in the rucksack? She seems to be holding onto it very tightly.”
This morning a search organiser said: “The weather is rubbish this morning.
“There is maybe a gap in the weather at about 11am if anyone would like to join me to try and get in some undergrowth away from the river.”
A North Yorkshire spokesman has confirmed that Victoria left her home at 9am and was then seen on CCTV at 11.35am at the BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton.
The spokesperson continued: “We now have a further sighting of Victoria which was captured at 11.53am on the Monday (30 Septmeber) at Malton Bus Station on Railway Street.
“To date, this is the last confirmed sighting of Victoria.
“Over the past week we have undertaken extensive enquiries.
“The investigation has involved the collection and review of CCTV footage and passive data research, we have searched key areas of both land and water and we have interviewed several witnesses.
“We remain open minded and, whilst the investigation of Victoria’s movements has been thorough, we will continue to pursue existing and new lines of enquiry.
“Based on information obtained from these exhaustive enquiries, North Yorkshire Police is satisfied at the current time that there is no information to suggest any form of third-party involvement following the disappearance of Victoria and this remains a missing person case.
“On Tuesday, we recovered several personal items belonging to Victoria near to the River Derwent.
“This area is where we are currently focusing our search efforts and the public can expect to see continued activity in the coming days.”
Marine teams are continuing to scour the depths of the River Derwent on Malton, North Yorkshire, as the search entered its second week today.
LAST MOVEMENTS
According to witnesses, Victoria was seen walking towards Norton Hive library on Commercial Road around 9am last Monday.
She was then filmed on CCTV wearing a black puffer jacket, jeans and a camouflage cap buying a soft drink in the Marks & Spencer store at a BP garage in Norton at about 11.35am.
Yesterday, marine search and rescue crews were again seen scouring the water using specialist sonar equipment.
Locals were urged not to defy police advice to steer clear of scouring the muddy riverbank and putting themselves at risk.
Some volunteers were seen searching riverside fields with dogs and using wooden sticks to comb through vegetation near the neighbouring village of Low Hutton.
Large banners were put up in the town centre alerting visitors to this weekend’s Malton Food Festival to be vigilant.
Friends meanwhile told of their disgust today after a “sick” troll infilitrated a Facebook group set up to help locate Victoria and claimed she had been found.
They claimed that a police statement would be issued confirming the news.
But sister Emma Worden quickly blocked the culprit and told the group’s 7,000 members: “Please do not believe what people post, the idiot has been blocked.
“If our Vixx has been found are the police going to go on this group and tell a randomer or phone me, Heidi or Matthew?
“The updated post will be updated when we know info or want to share it we will do it on our future post. Again more stress created for us.”
Some of her belongings were found last Wednesday near to the river.
Meanwhile, search crews face a race against the clock to find Victoria with rain forecast over the next week.
The fast-flowing river had already swelled to a depth of 2.77m before receding in recent days.
But poor weather due over the coming days will see water levels rise again – hindering search efforts.
Posting on Facebook, Victoria’s neighbour and close friend Charlotte Cundill urged search teams to stay safe today.
Charlotte wrote: “Day 8, we have rolled into another week, not what any of us wanted but we won’t be giving up on you beautiful.
“I’m looking for suggestions on other places to search if people think that’s what’s needed – I do – and also meeting points.
“This has spread far and wide and we are also at nearly 8,000 people on the page.
“I’d like to keep this going and get the word out to as many people as possible, as far away as possible.
“We all need to stay hopeful and positive. The weather isn’t looking to great for the week.”
She added: “So please, stay safe yourselves and get wrapped up if out searching.
“Many thanks to everyone for their kind words and generosity -please let’s keep this going.”
Another local said: “The river is very dangerous when it’s receding -there’s a slippery bank side.”
A police diver said: “The weather is alright at the moment but it’s going to get worse over the next week.”
Asked if that would make search and rescue efforts more difficult, another searcher replied: “Yes.”
‘PLEASE COME HOME’
On Friday, Victoria’s fiance Matthew Williams implored his partner to return home to their daughter Nancy, two.
He told her in a tearful direct message: “Please come home, babe.
“Come home to Nancy and be the mum that you know you are and can still be.”
Victoria is described by North Yorkshire Police as white, around 5ft 2in tall.
Inspector Martin Dennison said: “If you do have any information which can help with the search then please call us on 101.”
Dennison added: “Any immediate sightings should be reported to 999.”
Timeline of Victoria's disappearance
Monday (September 30)
9am
Victoria Taylor is last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire.
She is understood to have been going towards the library in Commercial Street.
11.35am
She goes into a BP garage on Welham Road.
Sister Heidi Baker claims she is also seen heading towards the River Derwent at some point.
11.53am
Footage shows Victoria at 11.53am on Monday, September 30, standing at Malton Bus Station on Railway Street
Tuesday (October 1)
The search efforts for Victoria ramp up, with a police presence in the area she was last seen and a Facebook search group is set up.
Wednesday (October 2)
The search expands to focus on the river after Victoria’s belongings were found on the riverbank.
Drones are spotted at nearby Malton & Norton Golf Club.
Members of the Facebook group arrange to meet at the train station.
Thursday (October 3)
Police release a CCTV image of Victoria at a BP garage at 11.35am on Monday and confirm her belongings were found on the river bank.
Volunteer searchers from the Facebook group arrange to meet outside a pub at 1pm.
The admin of the Facebook page advises searchers not to go near the river, after being warned off by cops.
Friday (October 4)
Victoria’s partner Matthew Williams issues a plea for the “dedicated” mum to come home.
Her sisters then released a statement saying they feel “sick and lost”.
Monday (October 7)
The search enters its second week with police deploying high tech sonar equipment.
New CCTV shows Victoria at 11.53am on Monday, September 30, standing at Malton Bus Station on Railway Street.