Gaynor Lord update: Body found in river confirmed as missing Norwich mother-of-three

In a statement on Saturday, Norfolk Police said they would “pursue all lines of enquiry” to understand why mother-of-three Gaynor Lord went missing last Friday

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley said: “The post-mortem examination has found no signs that any other parties were involved.

“Although our searches have concluded, officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance.

“We will pursue all lines of inquiry to understand why she went missing.”

Ms Lord worked in Jarrolds department store in Bedford Street, Norwich.

Her shift on Friday December 8 was due to end at 4pm but instead she left more than an hour early at 2.45pm. So far, Police have been unable to explain why, and have been informed by friends and family her behaviour was out of character.

Chief Superintendant Dave Buckley told a media briefing last week: “We can’t explain some of her behaviour that day. We’re working really closely with family, with friends, with anybody else who might have had contact with her in the recent days or weeks to try and understand why this might have happened.

“People are very shocked by what’s happened. Nobody knows why she’s done what she’s done.”

Norfolk Police confirmed on Monday that the body pulled out of the River Wensum on Friday was Gaynor Lord.

The mother-of-three had been missing for a week before she was found.

Her final known movements were captured on CCTV as she walked through Norwich city centre after leaving work over an hour early.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of mother-of-three Gaynor Lord have said there is no evidence a third party was involved in her death.

The 55-year-old vanished after leaving work in Norwich city centre early at 2.45pm on December 8 and Norfolk Police said her body was found in the River Wensum on Friday.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Saturday morning and found no indication a third party was involved and the death is not being treated as suspicious, the force added.

This is the full statement released by Norfolk Police today as they confirmed the body pulled from the River Wensum on Friday was Gaynor Lord:

Norfolk Police have confirmed the timeline of Gaynor’s movements in the city centre:

2.44pm – Gaynor is working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement at Jarrold department store – her clothing is clearly visible

2.45-2.46pm – She leaves the store via the loading bay on Bedford Street

2.47pm – Walks onto London Street past the Cosy Club

2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street and walks toward the Cathedral

2.50pm – Gaynor walks into the cathedral grounds

2.57pm – Gaynor walks along Riverside Walk

3.12pm – Gaynor is seen walking back on Riverside Walk, on to Cotman Fields and crosses Bishopgate

3.13pm – Gaynor continues to talk on Riverside Road towards the cathedral

3.22pm – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the cathedral entrance – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts her coat on

3.23pm – She is seen to walk away from the cathedral on Queens Street – here you can see a clear image of the coat she was wearing

3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street

3.53pm – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street

4.01pm – Gaynor walks up St Augustines Street

4.03pm – Walks on to Baker Street

4.07pm – The final sighting of Gaynor is on Green Hills Road/St Martins Road junction

Gaynor Lord’s heartbroken family have told friends of their pain as police confirmed her body was found in the river on Friday.

A family friend said the 55-year-old’s loved ones were left “distraught” after she disappeared, telling The Times: “Gaynor’s husband Clive is totally lost. He doesn’t understand at all what’s happened.”

Lord’s daughter Charlotte, 24, had shared police appeals several times on social media. Her latest tragic update confirmed a body had been found.

Police found a number of Ms Lord’s belongings scattered in Wensum Park next to the river where they were conducting the main search.

Clothing, a mobile phone and glasses were found dispersed around the park 1.5 miles from her workplace in a department store. Her coat was found in the River Wensum itself.

Chief Superintendent Dave Buckley from Norfolk Police said the force had used sonar equipment across the river which was an “extraordinarily challenging environment” for them to work in.