Missing mum Victoria Taylor's cause of death revealed as inquest opened

An inquest into thd death of missing mum Victoria Taylor has heard she died as a result of drowning.

Victoria's body was found in the River Derwent near Malton, North Yorkshire, on October 22 - three weeks after she went missing.

An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned on Thursday at County Hall, Northallerton, by North Yorkshire coroner Catherine Cundy.

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Ms Cundy revealed the provisional cause of death was drowning. Coroner Cundy stated: "Miss Taylor was reported missing by her fiance on October 1 2024.

She added: "Extensive searches were carried out and, sadly, Miss Taylor’s body was recovered from the River Derwent in Malton on October 22. Miss Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The brief hearing took place without family members present and has been adjourned to an unspecified date.

Police have said Miss Taylor, a nurse at a care home, was located by divers near where some of her belongings were found post-disappearance. The search operation included specialist sonar equipment and community-led efforts.

At a press conference on the day Miss Taylor’s body was found, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police, said Miss Taylor’s family had been informed and were “understandably distressed”.

He said: “The disappearance of Victoria has understandably had a wider impact on the communities of Malton and Norton.

“Those closest to Victoria have felt an enormous amount of heartache in the days after she went missing and have acknowledged how grateful they are for the overwhelming support from the community.”

Officers previously said Miss Taylor left her home at 9am on Monday September 30, and was seen on CCTV at 11.35am at the BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton, where she purchased several items.

A further sighting was captured at 11.53am at Malton bus station on Railway Street.

More CCTV footage showed Miss Taylor walking towards the play park on Riverside Walk at 12.30pm.=