Victoria Taylor’s cause of death revealed after mum, 34, found dead in river following heartbreaking disappearance
A MUM whose body was discovered in a river three weeks after she vanished died as a result of drowning, an inquest heard.
Victoria Taylor, 34, disappeared from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, at around 9am on September 30.
Police launched a huge search for the bride-to-be after her personal belongings were found close to the River Derwent.
Officers confirmed a body was found by underwater search teams at on October 22 close to where her possessions were found.
An inquest heard today how Victoria’s provisional cause of death was given as drowning.
Area coroner for York and North Yorkshire Catherine Cundy told the court she was reported missing by her fiancé Matthew on October 1.
She added: “Extensive searches were carried out and sadly Miss Taylor’s body was recovered from the River Derwent on 22nd October.
“She was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Ms Cundy also told the inquest, which was not attended by Victoria’s family, that the mum worked as a nurse in a care home.
The coroner adjourned the full hearing for a date to be set.
The nurse, who was mum to a two-year-old daughter, vanished while heading towards a library on Commercial Street in Malton.
A CCTV image later showed Victoria hidden under a camouflage baseball cap at a BP garage around half-a-mile away.
Victoria was also seen on camera as she passed Malton bus station and a children’s play park at 11.53am.
Her last sighting was at 12.30pm as she walked towards the play park before heading to a path along the water.
Police concentrated their search on the river after confirming a “number of personal possessions” belonging to Victoria had been found near the water.
Drones were used to search the area from above, while a specialist underwater unit was also drafted in to help with the hunt.
Officers also used sophisticated sonar technology to scan the river bed as the search ramped up.
A Facebook group was also set up to help find Victoria as locals put up missing posters around the area.
Her fiancé Matthew Williams updated his Facebook profile picture to a touching black and white snap of the pair.
He later issued a heartbreaking plea, saying: “I hope she comes back safely”.
The couple had recently returned home after enjoying their first holiday together in Majorca.