• Police have discovered a body in the River Wyre, close to where Nicola Bulley vanished.
• Police criticized public for spreading “persistent misconceptions”.
• And releasing Bulley’s personal information, leading to accusations of sexism.

Authorities reported they had discovered a body on Sunday while hunting for missing UK mother Nicola Bulley.

In the northern English community of St. Michael’s on Wyre, close to where Bulley vanished, a body was discovered in a river, according to Lancashire Police.

Although Bulley’s family has been notified of the finding, the body has not yet been officially recognized.

“We were called today at 11:36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road,” a police statement read.

“An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.

“Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected.”

The latest developments in the case, according to Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s tweets, are “heart-breaking” and “distressing.”

“My thoughts remain with Nicola’s family at this extremely difficult time,” she added.

On the morning of Friday, January 27, Bulley, a mortgage advisor, vanished. She dropped off her two children at school and then, according to the police, went for a dog walk.

A short while later, her dog was discovered wandering alone, and her phone, which was still connected to a group work call, was discovered on a seat by the river.

However the Lancashire Police’s search for the 45-year-old mother of two was unfruitful for three weeks.

Police also – unusually – decided to mention that Bulley had been battling with alcohol troubles and menopause at the time of her disappearance, which further confused the public and garnered significant media attention to the case.

Last week, investigators harshly criticized members of the public for spreading “persistent misconceptions,” according to their claims.

The social media craze, according to Lancashire Police Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith, “seriously sidetracked” the inquiry on Wednesday. I’ve been a police officer for 29 years, and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“Some of it’s been quite shocking and really hurtful to the family. Obviously, we can’t disregard anything, and we’ve reviewed everything that’s come in but of course it has distracted us significantly.”

Many people accused Lancashire Police of sexism after the force decided to release Bulley’s personal information.

Braverman expressed reservations about the police’s handling of the matter, and even the government criticized them.

Before speaking with Media, Stephanie Benyon, a friend of Bulley’s whose kids go to the same school, described Bulley as “a nice, devoted and caring person who values her two girls, family, and friends.” Paul Ansell, Bulley’s longtime companion of 12 years, had called the circumstance “perpetual agony.”

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