Missing Victoria Taylor's friends slam armchair detectives

Friends of missing Victoria Taylor have slammed armchair detectives and internet sleuths as the search for the mother-of-one stretches into its sixth day.  

Bride-to-be Ms Taylor, who is a nurse, was last seen at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, at 9am on Monday, prompting a major search. 

Her friends have set up a Facebook group to find Ms Taylor, which is already being follow by nearly 5,500 people.

One of those friends is Charlotte Cundill, who reminded followers to refrain from speculating as she wrote in the group: 'Mediums and psychics not welcome on page. We need facts and facts only right now.'

She added in another recent post: 'Remember its such a busy weekend in town this weekend. Please keep up the searching and updating. 

'Can I please ask that the questions STOP, questions like "where was she last seen", "what was she wearing", "does she drive" ...'

Divers are carrying out a search along a stretch of the River Derwent in Malton near the home the 34-year-old shares with her fiance Matthew Williams and their two-year-old daughter. 

Police released CCTV footage that was captured at 11.35am on Monday, at a BP garage in Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton. It shows the 34-year-old mother inside the shop wearing a camouflage cap and a black Adidas coat.

Some of her belongings were found by police along the riverbank of the River Derwent, including the camo cap she wore in the CCTV images as well as her rucksack, a salmon pink Vans brand. 

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
Medium who found Nicola Bulley's body reveals how he had emotional meeting with her family

Another friend, Helen Moran, said: 'The CCTV footage is her. This has come from family and close friends that know her. The coat is black not blue. Its pixelated from being taken from a screen.

'She has NOT got on a train or bus. The CCTV has been reviewed and continuing to be reviewed extensively.'

'Speculation does not help anyone and if it seems an obvious question then the family have already thought it and the family has though it over and over,' she added. 

Friends of the missing mother-of-one claim her Instagram account was still 'active' after she vanished. 

It's unclear why the 34-year-old's account would have been active on Tuesday, after she was last seen the day before. 

The items were found just lying in the open, not hidden.

Following her mysterious disappearance, the bottles of soft drinks Ms Taylor was filmed buying at the petrol station were found by her relatives in a clearing on the riverside path. 

Police have confirmed that these items were purchased with Ms Taylor's card at the petrol station. 

In regards to her 'active' Instagram account, friends have claimed Ms Taylor's family may have been using her Instagram profile, which led to the account showing as 'active'. 

However, the missing bride-to-be's loved ones have not stated this was the case.

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
'Her daughter is missing her mam': Missing Victoria Taylor's heartbroken fiancé breaks his silence

Ms Taylor was seen at her home in the market town at 9am on Monday with her husband Matthew and their two-year-old daughter. She was Facetiming siblings.

Mr Williams and his fiancee then left with their daughter to visit his parents. Ms Taylor then left his parents' house and did not return, her sister Heidi Baker said. 

A local lady saw her crossing the railway crossing near a Lidl store in Welham Road about 11.30 to 12 noon, heading towards the River Derwent.

A woman in a house near the play park saw her coming down the path leading to the river.

She was then seen by locals passing a local children's play park, the Riverside Playground, and walking along a thickly overgrown path next to the river between 11.30am and noon. 

Following the discovery of Ms Taylor's belongings, police have been carrying out extensive searches along the River Derwent. 

Drones have been used in the search while police in kayaks have also been seen on the river. 

An underwater team has also been involved while others officers have reviewed hours of CCTV from around Malton where the mother-of-one was last seen. 

Ms Taylor's friends and family have also been searching the area and have said they will not give up on trying to find her.

One friend said: 'The majority of Malton and several other areas are searching for you. I'm praying and hoping each and every day to hear good news.' 

Any immediate sightings of Ms Taylor should be reported to police on 999.

Anyone with any information that could help the search, is urged to call 101 and quote reference 12240178710.