Claudia Lawrence: Police searching gravel pits eight miles from missing woman’s home | United Kingdom | News

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Claudia Lawrence disappeared in 2009 and police believe she was murdered, although no body was ever found. North Yorkshire Police on Tuesday confirmed the start of a search operation in gravel pits in Sand Hatton, east York.

Detective Inspector Wayne Fox did not say how long the operation would take, but said he expected a team of divers and forensics to be deployed to the site “for several days.”

Supervising Detective Investigator Fox, who took over the case’s chief investigative officer earlier this year, added that the Sand Hutton website is “one of several active lines of investigation currently being investigated.”

The police chief added that Ms. Lawrence’s family had been informed of the latest developments.

The photographs show specialized officers in black uniforms combing large swaths of woodland near the gravel pits at Sand Houghton.

Several police cars and vans were seen parked along a narrow road next to the forest.

Police have also closed off a road outside the York Biotech campus and activity can be seen outside the ring about a mile off the A64 main road between York and Malton.

Speaking from the site of the search operation, Superintendent Detective Fox said: “The searches that began here today at the Sand Hutton Gravel Pits relate to the disappearance and murder of Claudia Lawrence as the suspect over 12 years ago.

“While I cannot say how long the search might take at this point, I expect that a number of officers and specialist 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.

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

Lawrence, who was 35 at the time of her disappearance, lived alone in the Heyworth area of ​​York and was last seen around 3pm on March 18, 2009.

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Later that evening she spoke to her parents, Joan and Peter Lawrence, by phone, but the next day failed to show up for work at Godric College at York University.

A friend became concerned when she failed to meet at a local bar on the evening of 19 March and called Mrs. Lawrence’s father, who reported her missing on 20 March.

North Yorkshire Police have conducted two investigations and questioned nine people in connection with her disappearance and the suspected murder, but no charges have ever been brought.

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

The 74-year-old campaigned tirelessly for answers about his daughter’s disappearance and spent years debating what would become the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill.

The legislation, also known as the Claudia Law, went into effect in 2019 and allows relatives to take control of the financial matters of missing loved ones.

Mr. Lawrence was awarded the OBE on the Queen’s birthday in 2018 in recognition of his campaign.

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