A NATIONWIDE appeal about missing Malton chef Claudia Lawrence received more than 80 calls from the public as the heartbreaking search enters its third week.

The 35-year-old was last seen as she walked home from her job at the University of York on the night of March 18 and police have admitted they fear she may have come to harm.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway appealed for help on Monday night’s Crimewatch programme on BBC1 and triggered 83 calls.

Det Supt Galloway said: “We have received some interesting calls, particularly about previous relationships, what we also want to know is about more recent relationships and whether anyone has shown an interest in Claudia lately.”

He added that any information received would be treated in the strictest confidence and police particularly wanted to trace Miss Lawrence’s rucksack and mobile phone.

Miss Lawrence, of Heworth Road, York, was due to meet a female friend for a drink at the nearby Nag’s Head pub but failed to turn up.

A wide police search, involving civilian search and rescue teams including Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue team, and a poster campaign by family and friends has so far failed to locate her.

Police said Miss Lawrence had no money, bank cards or passport with her when she went missing.

She is 5ft 6ins and of slim build, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue skinny jeans and white trainers.

Her father, solicitor Peter Lawrence, has dismissed speculation that his daughter could have gone off with a new boyfriend. Police fear Miss Lawrence, whose family still lives in the Malton area, might have come to harm after meeting someone she knew.

The story hit the headlines across the country and a media campaign, led by family friend Martin Dales, of Old Malton, has seen national and local newspapers, television and radio stations pick up the story.

More than 15,000 people have signed up to a Facebook page devoted to Miss Lawrence.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Claudia hunt now treated as murder

A MASSIVE police search for missing chef Claudia Lawrence has been classified as suspected murder, according to the detective leading the hunt.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway said that, despite the reclassification there was still no proof of her death.

The news came shortly after a £10,000 reward was offered to help the police search for the missing 35-year-old, who was born and bred in Malton and who was last seen near her home after leaving work at the University of York’s Goodricke College on Wednesday March 18.

Det Supt Galloway said: “At the moment we have no proof of Claudia’s death. However, five weeks on from her disappearance we also have no proof of her life. The investigation is now being formally classified as one of suspected murder.”

He added that he had not given up hope but was “looking at this investigation from a technical perspective” and disclosed significant lines of inquiry following information from members of the public.

One person had reported seeing a man and a woman walking near the university, between 6am and 6.30am, the day before and the day after her disappearance.

Another witness also saw a man and a woman at 5.35am on Thursday March 19, as he travelled down Melrosegate, towards Heworth, where Miss Lawrence lives.

Her father, Peter Lawrence, was also at the news conference and said he understood why the police were now treating his daughter’s disappearance as murder but said he believed she was still alive.

He said: “We believe that Claudia is still alive and that is what keeps us going and motivates us. I believe and the family believe very much that Claudia is still alive and we very much hope she is alive. The sense of hope is clearly there.”

The £10,000 reward has been offered by Crimestoppers, in connection with the investigation.

Dave Hunter, Crimestoppers regional manager for the North East and North Yorkshire area, said: “Crimestoppers has put in an enhanced reward of £10,000 for information relating to this case.

“It is quite unusual because, at this moment in time, no crime has been committed. However, it is such a big issue and the public have been captivated by the case.

“From a Crimestoppers point of view, we hope this will generate specific information relating to Claudia, which can help police with their inquiries.”

The police investigation is the biggest the North Yorkshire force has conducted since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson five years ago.

During the investigation:

• There were 908 calls to the incident room between Sunday, March 22, and Wednesday (April 22);
• 868 statements and reports have been taken;
• 270 properties have been visually searched – including all gardens and outbuildings belonging to each property.

Police said Miss Lawrence had no money, bank cards or passport with her when she went missing.

She is described as white, around 5ft 6ins and of slim build, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue skinny jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Saturday April 25 2009.

Police hopes over Claudia re-enactment

DETECTIVES are hoping that a Crimewatch re-enactment will help their investigation into the disappearance of Malton chef Claudia Lawrence.

Filming took place in York and will be broadcast on BBC1 during the next few weeks.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “We hope the Crimewatch appeal and reconstructions will help jog people’s memories and someone will come forward and provide us with that vital piece of information which will lead us to Claudia.

“There are still a number of unexplained sightings of people in the area at key times. We again appeal to these people to come forward, it could be that you were in the area for an entirely innocent reason but we need to you to come forward and tell us, to enable us to eliminate you from the investigation.”

The 35-year-old has not been seen since leaving work on Wednesday March 18 and police would still like to trace:

• A man who was smoking and a woman who were seen on Melrosegate Bridge at 5.35am on Thursday, March 19 – it is believed that this was a possible sighting of Claudia;
• A man who was filmed by CCTV cameras going into Lime Court at 5.45am on Thursday, March 19;
• Another man who was also seen on CCTV in Heworth Road and outside Costcutters at 5:50am on Thursday, March 19;
• Two Asian men seen at Claudia’s door on Tuesday, March 10;
• A couple seen arguing on University Road at 6.10am on Thursday, March 19. Earlier this week Miss Lawrence’s father Peter, 62, of Slingsby, said he was “angry” that repeated appeals for information had drawn a blank.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Friday, May 22, 2009.