Loved Ones Urge Public to Focus on Finding Nicola Bulley, Not Speculating on Her Life
As the search for Nicola Bulley, a 45-year-old mother-of-two, enters its fourth week, her family has shared an emotional message: “We love you so much and your girls want a cuddle.” Bulley vanished while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school, leaving her phone on a bench by the river and her spaniel running free.
In a statement released through Lancashire Police, her family expressed their deep love for her: “Nikki is such a wonderful daughter, sister, partner, and mother and is missed dearly – we all need you back in our lives.” They encouraged her to reach out, whether to them or through MissingPeople.org.uk, emphasising, “Don’t be scared, we all love you so very much.”
Their appeal follows a police press conference where authorities classified Bulley as a high-risk missing person due to “specific vulnerabilities” discussed with her family. In an effort to address rampant speculation, police disclosed that Bulley had been dealing with “significant issues with alcohol,” exacerbated by “ongoing struggles with the menopause.”
Lancashire Constabulary took the rare step of revealing details about her personal life to combat misinformation. Bulley’s family acknowledged they were informed of this decision beforehand, stating, “Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop.”
They shared that Bulley had been experiencing significant menopause-related symptoms, including brain fog and restless sleep, and was undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, the HRT caused her intense headaches, leading her to discontinue it, which her family believes contributed to her current situation.
This statement marks the family’s most detailed communication since her parents and sister appeared on Sky News shortly after her disappearance. Her father, Ernie Bulley, reflected on their distress, saying, “It’s just been so painful. We’re such a close-knit family, we talk to each other every day. This has just emptied our lives at the minute, we feel so empty.”
Her partner, Paul Ansell, expressed his determination to remain hopeful, stating, “We’re never going to lose hope, but right now it’s as though she vanished into thin air.” He described the situation as “insane” and “like a dream,” emphasising that his primary focus is on their two daughters and maintaining strength for them.
As the search continues, the family urges the community to concentrate on finding Nicola rather than indulging in unfounded theories about her life.
