Missing Woman's Partner Insisted 'She Is Going To Come Home'

In the latest update concerning Nicola Bulley's missing case, her fiance, Paul Ansell, launched a fresh appeal last Friday. Ansell spoke in a program titled, Vanished: Where Is Nicola Bulley? on Channel 5. He addressed the general public stating that anyone who had information about her whereabouts should come forward. Ansell also shared that he believed something happened to his partner in the village of St. Michael on Wyre.

The dad-of-two shared that in weeks leading up to the unfortunate incident that hit their family, he and Bulley had been planning their wedding. He revealed that their daughters were to be her little bridesmaids. During the program, Ansell stated that he was sure Bulley, 45, did not fall into River Wyre. He continued that they had been on their wedding plans for a few years and had to put them on hold due to the pandemic.

He noted how much his partner knew the river part. He relayed that the path was "about as well known a walk to us as you could possibly do." He continued that if there was a strange person in the vicinity they would often stick out like a "sore thumb." Ansell went on, "So whatever has happened, in my eyes, has to be somebody who knows the local area. And the fact that nothing's been seen or heard, I just truly believe that it's something in the village."

Contrary to how Ansell theorized the mystery surrounding Bulley's disappearance, the Lancashire police believe the mom-of-two mots likely fell into the cold water, and because she was wearing two heavy coats, she possibly drowned. Following the river search, the police are attending the search to the outer sea on Morecambe Bay. In retrospect, the underwater searchers in charge shared that they do not believe the finance worker was in the river.

While authorities are keeping their options open, Ansell is holding on to his hope that she would be found. Referring to her as Nikki, he noted that she "would never give up on us ever." He added that she would not give up on anyone and for that, he would stick to finding her. He went on to state that Bulley was the "pillar of strength" to her family.

Thinking back to the last morning the family saw her, according to him, nothing was amiss. They went through their regular morning routine, and there was no rush to even get the kids to school. Ansell said that nothing was out of the ordinary. He noted that it was her turn to take the children to school and also walk their dog, Willow.

By 10: 30am, Ansell was getting anxious that Bulley had not returned home. He recalled dialing her number several times without any response, and at this point, he became worried. The longtime partner of Bulley was trying to get dressed and go in search of her when a call came through from his daughter's school. It had been the school's receptionist ringing, and she informed him that Bulley's phone and Willow were found close to the river.

With all the theories laid out by the police, Ansell is not alone in his deduction that Bulley did not fall into the river. Ansell stated to Channel 5's David Walker that that was the moment he knew something was terribly wrong. He shared that Bulley would never have left the dog because it was a "third child."

He noted that her family also supported his notion that she did not fall into the river. Dive expert Paul Faulding also stated that he did not think she fell into the body of water. He recalled that the water was two feet high at the edge on the day Bulley went missing, and it was barely moving. He shared that if she had fallen, she could have stood up.

Ansell described his long-time lover as fun, loving, and the most loyal friend. He noted,"'With Nikki, what you see is what you get. Nothing's hidden. You know, it's all. That's her. And she is an exceptional mum and she absolutely adores our girls. And goes above and beyond."

The dad went on to discuss the effect of his partner's disappearance on their daughters. Ansell relayed how he was trying to do what was best for their girls by keeping the worst of his worries away while focusing on distracting them as much as possible. He added that all he could tell them was that "everybody is looking for mommy."

Last Friday, the Lancashire police released a statement noting that through all the measures taken so far, they would keep an "open mind." Despite this, there were soft undertones that she could have ended up in the river.