Nicola Bulley case created online ‘monster’, family says

Nicola Bulley's partner described the intense online focus and obsession surrounding her disappearance as a “monster” that has spiraled beyond control.

Paul Ansell mentioned that his family was initially grateful for the significant public interest following the disappearance of the mother of two in Lancashire.

However, her sudden vanishing quickly drew a surge of amateur detectives on social media who began sharing hurtful and highly inaccurate statements about the situation, resulting in the family facing online harassment.

"I believe that situations like that have both positive and negative aspects," Mr. Ansell shared with the BBC.

"That's the issue at hand. You're provoking a dangerous situation."

Ms. Bulley, aged 45, disappeared on January 27, 2023, while she was taking her dog for a walk along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, just after she had dropped her two daughters off at school.

Her remains were discovered in the river on February 19, and an investigation conducted in June of the previous year concluded that she had drowned accidentally.

A BBC documentary titled The Search For Nicola Bulley looks into how the media has reported on the case, examines the influence of amateur online detectives who have been conducting their own inquiries, and features insights from the Lancashire Police and Ms. Bulley's family.

The documentary explores the chaos the family experienced as the hunt for Ms. Bulley grew more urgent, highlighting how it affected Nicola and Paul's young kids.

Mr. Ansell shared, "The nights were the toughest."

“In the morning, there was a strong sense of hope. It would get dark around 4 PM.”

Around 3 PM, I would start to feel a sense of urgency, realizing that it would soon be getting dark in just an hour. We only had 60 minutes to locate her.

"Of course, the first thing the girls would do after school is rush over to me and ask, 'Did we find mommy?'"

The continuous search sparked intense speculation and various conspiracy theories across the internet, leading amateur sleuths to make their way to Lancashire to “assist” the police.

“I was receiving messages from individuals I’ve never encountered before. They don’t have any familiarity with me, with us, or with Nikki,” Mr. Ansell mentioned.

He was informed, "There's no way to escape," and, "We're aware of your actions."

Mr. Ansell expressed, “In addition to the distressing nightmare we're experiencing, it's hard to cope with the terrible things being said about me in connection with Nikki. Everyone has their breaking point.”

In a press briefing just days prior to her discovery, Lancashire Police revealed that Ms. Bulley had been dealing with serious alcohol-related challenges due to her ongoing difficulties with menopause.

The family mentioned that she had stopped her hormone replacement therapy during that time and started drinking as a way to cope.

Louise Cunningham, Ms. Bulley’s sister, described the situation as a typical yet strange occurrence. "That's the most straightforward response I can provide," she said in the documentary.

Mr. Ansell mentioned that he can still recognize Nicola in the expressions of their two daughters.

“Every day, I notice those little traits in the girls that remind me of her. It’s like I can see pieces of Mummy in them, and that means the world to me.”

Last year, a coroner determined that Ms. Bulley's death was accidental, noting that she had fallen into the river and experienced "cold water shock." The coroner also stated that there was "no indication" to support the idea of suicide.

Authorities criticized individuals on TikTok for acting like amateur investigators in the community, stating that they had been overwhelmed with misleading information, allegations, and gossip concerning the case.

The report on the case determined that sharing details about Ms. Bulley's health issues was "preventable and not needed." It emphasized the importance of the police and media working to restore public confidence.

The College of Policing's independent report concluded that, in terms of law enforcement, the investigation into missing persons was managed effectively. However, it also noted that the police lost control over the public's perception of the situation early on.

High-ranking officials did not provide updates to recognized journalists, as the relationship between the police and the media had deteriorated. This resulted in a lack of information and a rise in unverified rumors.

The program titled "The Search For Nicola Bulley" is set to air on BBC One on October 3 at 9:00 PM BST and will also be accessible on BBC iPlayer.