Claudia Lawrence: New police search gravel pits eight miles from missing York University chef’s home | UK news

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Police investigating the disappearance of York University chef Claudia Lawrence – who went missing in 2009 – have begun new research in gravel pits eight miles from her home.

Although police believe she was murdered, no body has been found.

North Yorkshire Police on Tuesday confirmed the start of a search operation in gravel pits in Sand Hatton, east York.

Image: Nine people have been questioned in connection with her disappearance

Police officers can be seen searching in the bushes along a public bridge through the woods. Gravel pits are believed to have been used as fishing ponds since 1969.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Inspector Wayne Fox, who took over as chief investigating officer on the case earlier this year, confirmed that the search relates to Ms. Lawrence’s disappearance.

He said, “While I cannot say at this point how long the search may take, I expect that a number of specialist officers and staff, including underwater search teams and forensic experts, will likely be at this location for several days.”

“While I cannot reveal what brought us to this site, I would like to stress that the searches you will see in the coming days are just one of several active lines of investigation that are currently being investigated and are being pursued by the North Yorkshire Police Principal Investigation Team in our efforts to determine what happened to Claudia and identify No one responsible for harming her.

Photo: Lawrence’s father Peter passed away earlier this year without knowing what happened to his daughter

“I can confirm that Claudia’s family knows this activity is happening.”

Mrs. Lawrence lived alone in the Heyworth area of ​​York and has not been heard from since March 18, 2009, when she spoke to her parents on the phone and sent a final text message to a friend at 8.23pm.

Her father called the police two days later after she failed to meet a friend at the Nags Head bar, or go to work.

Photo: Mrs. Lawrence was killed by police but no body was ever found

Nine people have been questioned in connection with her disappearance and suspected murder but no charges have been brought.

Earlier this year, Fox reiterated the force’s belief that many people know, or have doubts, about what happened to the 35-year-old.

He said that some of the information received by the force “looks very exciting and launches a whole new line of investigation,” and urged anyone providing such information to get in touch with as many details as possible.

Photo: Police were searching the grounds at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits

Lawrence’s father, Peter, died earlier this year without knowing what happened to his daughter.

Nearly a decade after her disappearance, the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill – also known as the Claudia Law – went into effect, following decades of campaigning by Lawrence. It allows relatives to take control of the financial matters of their missing loved ones.

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