Disappearance of Claudia Lawrence
Encyclopedia
The disappearance of Claudia Lawrence is a missing person
case concerning a then-35 year old British
chef
at the University of York
. The last confirmed sighting of her was on 18 March 2009, in Melrosegate, Heworth
, York
.
at the Roger Kirk Centre. That evening she spoke to her parents by telephone, making plans with her mother to spend Mother's Day together. Lawrence later sent a text message to a friend and has not been heard from since then. The last text message from her was sent at 8:23 p.m., and her last received message, from a bar worker in Cyprus, was at 9:12 p.m.. Lawrence's passport and bank cards were left at her home when she went missing.
Speaking on the BBC 'Today' programme on 4 June 2009, Lawrence's father Peter said he doubted police claims that she had a secret life. He queried the comments made by Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway on BBC Crimewatch programme, specifically that parts of Claudia's life "remain a mystery" and that police believe she had "complicated relationships" that her family and friends knew nothing about. However, he later said that he "did not recognise" his daughter after the claims that had been made about her personal life.
Six weeks after Lawrence went missing, the investigation into her disappearance was reclassified from a missing person's case to a suspected murder enquiry, although police have acknowledged they have no proof Lawrence is dead.
has offered a reward of £10,000 to anyone providing information which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person linked to the disappearance but this has since been withdrawn. Police have said that any past personal acquaintances of Lawrence have a limited time to come forward "in confidence." Police have received over 1,200 calls offering information, and an appeal for help was made by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. In early June 2009, a reconstruction of Lawrence's last known movements was featured in a Crimewatch appeal. The feature generated more than 60 telephone calls. Also in June, 100 days after his daughter went missing, Peter Lawrence launched a YouTube
appeal for information. In the appeal, he stated his belief that the internet was vital in the search. In late August 2009, police and the Lawrence family used the annual Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire to publicise the campaign.
In September 2009, police revealed that the search for Lawrence had been extended to Cyprus
. Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway stated that Lawrence "knew several people who live on the island" and that she may have "received job offers" while there. Galloway also stated that some people who had been interviewed had been "reluctant and less than candid" when spoken to, and that a team of officers had been sent to Cyprus to interview people who Lawrence met there. It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence was from a man who was on the island.
Later in September, detectives investigating the Lawrence case made a search of an area of the university where Lawrence worked. In October 2009, police revealed they were looking for the driver of a "rusty white van" who was seen trying to talk to women on Lawrence's route to work in the days before she disappeared.
On 24 March 2010, police began searching areas of Heslington
in York, based on new information received "in the last few days". On 24 March, land near to a children's play area, near a muddy farm track, was searched, and on 25 March, the search was relocated to a field near to the university, an area of land which is bordered by a playing field and student accommodation. It was later stated that police did not find any new leads from these searches and nothing of significance had been discovered.
, two other young, blonde British women who disappeared in 1996 and 2010 respectively, but said that they have not yet found direct evidence to link them. When a young woman's body was discovered on Christmas 2010, Lawrence's father had wondered whether his daughter had been found, but that victim was later identified as Yeates.
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
case concerning a then-35 year old British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
. The last confirmed sighting of her was on 18 March 2009, in Melrosegate, Heworth
Heworth, York
Heworth is part of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England, about north-east of the centre. It is sometimes referred to as Heworth Village...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
Last known whereabouts
Lawrence was last seen nearing her home in Heworth, York, on the afternoon of 18 March, as she returned from her work as a chef at the University of York's Goodricke CollegeGoodricke College (University of York)
Goodricke College is one of the colleges of the University of York. It was the fifth college to be built and was named after the astronomer John Goodricke. The College was opened in 1968 by Michael Swann and the event is commemorated by a plaque on the outside of the Old Dining Hall - now part of...
at the Roger Kirk Centre. That evening she spoke to her parents by telephone, making plans with her mother to spend Mother's Day together. Lawrence later sent a text message to a friend and has not been heard from since then. The last text message from her was sent at 8:23 p.m., and her last received message, from a bar worker in Cyprus, was at 9:12 p.m.. Lawrence's passport and bank cards were left at her home when she went missing.
Reported missing
Lawrence was reported missing after she failed to arrive at work for her early morning shift the following day. Police are now treating her disappearance as a suspected murder.Speaking on the BBC 'Today' programme on 4 June 2009, Lawrence's father Peter said he doubted police claims that she had a secret life. He queried the comments made by Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway on BBC Crimewatch programme, specifically that parts of Claudia's life "remain a mystery" and that police believe she had "complicated relationships" that her family and friends knew nothing about. However, he later said that he "did not recognise" his daughter after the claims that had been made about her personal life.
Six weeks after Lawrence went missing, the investigation into her disappearance was reclassified from a missing person's case to a suspected murder enquiry, although police have acknowledged they have no proof Lawrence is dead.
Case progress
The independent crime-fighting charity CrimestoppersCrimestoppers
Crime Stoppers or Crimestoppers is a program separate from the emergency telephone number system, that allows a member of the community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity. It thereby allows the person to provide crime solving assistance to the authorities without being...
has offered a reward of £10,000 to anyone providing information which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person linked to the disappearance but this has since been withdrawn. Police have said that any past personal acquaintances of Lawrence have a limited time to come forward "in confidence." Police have received over 1,200 calls offering information, and an appeal for help was made by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. In early June 2009, a reconstruction of Lawrence's last known movements was featured in a Crimewatch appeal. The feature generated more than 60 telephone calls. Also in June, 100 days after his daughter went missing, Peter Lawrence launched a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
appeal for information. In the appeal, he stated his belief that the internet was vital in the search. In late August 2009, police and the Lawrence family used the annual Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire to publicise the campaign.
In September 2009, police revealed that the search for Lawrence had been extended to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway stated that Lawrence "knew several people who live on the island" and that she may have "received job offers" while there. Galloway also stated that some people who had been interviewed had been "reluctant and less than candid" when spoken to, and that a team of officers had been sent to Cyprus to interview people who Lawrence met there. It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence was from a man who was on the island.
Later in September, detectives investigating the Lawrence case made a search of an area of the university where Lawrence worked. In October 2009, police revealed they were looking for the driver of a "rusty white van" who was seen trying to talk to women on Lawrence's route to work in the days before she disappeared.
On 24 March 2010, police began searching areas of Heslington
Heslington
Heslington is a suburban village and civil parish within the City of York, in North Yorkshire, England, south-east of the centre of York. Prior to 1974, it was a village in the Derwent Rural District, which was part of the East Riding of Yorkshire...
in York, based on new information received "in the last few days". On 24 March, land near to a children's play area, near a muddy farm track, was searched, and on 25 March, the search was relocated to a field near to the university, an area of land which is bordered by a playing field and student accommodation. It was later stated that police did not find any new leads from these searches and nothing of significance had been discovered.
Links to other cases
Police admitted there were similarities with the cases of Melanie Hall and Joanna YeatesMurder of Joanna Yeates
Joanna Clare "Jo" Yeates was a landscape architect from Hampshire, England, who went missing on 17 December 2010 in Bristol after an evening out with colleagues...
, two other young, blonde British women who disappeared in 1996 and 2010 respectively, but said that they have not yet found direct evidence to link them. When a young woman's body was discovered on Christmas 2010, Lawrence's father had wondered whether his daughter had been found, but that victim was later identified as Yeates.