Missing mum’s belongings found in kids’ play park near river as cops probe ‘significant possibility’ she entered water

MISSING mum Victoria Taylor’s belongings have been found in a children’s play park near a river as cops admit there is a “significant possibility” that she entered the water.

The care home nurse, 34, vanished from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire last Monday.

Searches have been focussed on the River Derwent, which runs through the market town, after some of her belongings were discovered on a bank two days later.

In a press conference today, North Yorkshire Police said it was making “every effort” to find the mother-of-one but revealed its strong belief that she had entered the water.

Head of Local Policing, Chief Superintendent Fiona Willey, said: “As with any investigation we are very open minded and will continue to explore all lines of enquiry.

“Based on the discovery of Victoria’s belongings so close to the water’s edge, we must accept the significant possibility that Victoria has entered the River Derwent.

“Searches are currently underway and those searches are taking place above and below the water surface.”

Mother-of-one Victoria left her home around 9am last Monday and was captured on CCTV at a nearby BP garage at 11.35am and at Malton bus station at 11.53am.

Police today said they have “no reason to believe” she used public transport.

Victoria then walked past a children’s play park before joining a path running alongside the Derwent.

Police today confirmed that further CCTV footage has been recovered, showing Victoria walk past a play area on Riverside Walk at 12.30pm.

Chief Supt Willes confirmed: “Various items that belonged to Victoria have been recovered from this location.”

In an emotional Facebook post, Victoria’s next-door neighbour appealed for her to return home to fiance Matthew and their daughter Nancy, two.

School friend Charlotte Cundill, 30, said: “We will not give up until we find you”.

The pub barmaid, who has known Victoria since school, posted on Facebook: “Day 10, we miss you so much.

“I think it’s safe to say you have touched a lot of hearts within this town. We will not give up until we find you.

“You’re an inspiration to a lot of people and it really does show.”

Charlotte praised locals for continuing to search for Victoria, and asked the 9,400 members to keep on handing out missing posters.

She added: “Her baby girl needs her mummy and her partner needs her kind heart back home safe and well.

“Thank you for everything you have all done so far and continue to do.

“We appreciate you all so much.”

The ongoing search of the River Derwent has been hampered by heavy rain in North Yorkshire, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning.

As of midday, the fast-flowing river had risen to a depth of 1.52m – up from 1.26m twelve hours earlier.

Police marine search teams are using underwater cameras sophisticated sonar technology capable of scanning the riverbed.

The ARIS system has been loaned by the Environment Agency who usually use the state-of-the-art equipment to count fish stocks.

They have concentrated their search on a stretch of water close to where some of Victoria’s belongings, including a rucksack and a camouflage cap, were found on a riverbank.

Officers with drones have also been drafted in to comb the river and its banks from the skies.

Chief supt Willey added: “The team are using specialist sonar equipment which gives officers a view below the surface.

“This search is slow and complex and the team are working methodically in very difficult conditions.

“The use of this specialist resource will continue in the coming days and we are very much supported in this work on a national level by police and advisers.

“Additional specialist police search officers are using drones to scour the rural areas close to where Victoria’s possessions were also found.

“Over the coming days we will continue our search to find Victoria and ensure we are doing all that we can to support the family.

“Understandably the disappearance of Victoria has shocked the local community and the family take comfort in the overwhelming amount of support from people both locally and further afield.”

North Yorkshire Police has ruled out any third-party involvement in the disappearance.

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, who is originally from Huddersfield, West Yorks, is described as white, around and 5ft 2in tall and known to friends as Vixx.

She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black Adidas original puffer jacket with white stripes down the sleeves, a grey Jack Wills hooded jumper and she was carrying a salmon-coloured Vans backpack.

Large missing posters have been put up in the town centre and along the A64 road between York and Scarborough. Red posters have also been put up on lampposts and in shop windows across the town.

Community-organised search continued to take place despite the poor weather.

Friend Lucy Parker wrote on Facebook: “Just been out along the river. The levels have risen again with the rain last night and the ground is water-logged.

“Please take care. Appropriate footwear is a must! Today is the day.”

Amateur sleuths have been accused of hampering the search by peddling baseless theories online over the disappearance.

Psychics, mediums and TikTok armchair detectives have all come under fire for speculating on her whereabouts.

After a troll lied that Victoria had been found, Victoria’s sister Emma Worden told members to ignore “the idiot”.

Chief Supt Willes said: “We have seen a small amount of misinformation and speculation, which is not helpful and is causing unnecessary anguish to Victoria’s family at this incredibly difficult time.

“Victoria’s family have made clear on various social media platforms, following the sharing of inaccurate information, their wish to work only with North Yorkshire Police in our efforts to locate Victoria and they have I asked that I take this opportunity to reiterate their position.

“Finally, we have taken advice on a national level to ensure that we are doing all we can to achieve the best possible outcome for Victoria and her family.

“As Head of Local Policing for North Yorkshire Police I have every confidence in our ongoing response to this missing person search.”