A MOTHER-OF-THREE told a friend she wanted to disappear “like Nicola” before she was found dead in a river seven days after she disappeared, an inquest heard.
Gaynor Lord, 55, launched a massive manhunt after terrifying CCTV showed her running through Norwich in December last year.
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Gaynor Lord was found dead a week after she disappeared Credit: Twitter
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She was caught smiling as she left workCredit: PA
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Gaynor was then seen running through the streets of NorwichCredit: PA
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She told a friend she wanted to be like Nicole Bulley
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The tragic mother was found dead a week later in the River Wensum.
Today’s inquest heard Gaynor had commented to a friend that she “disappeared like Nicola and people would come looking for her” just two days before she went missing.
Police believed the remark potentially referred to Nicola Bulley, who went missing while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27, the court was told.
Nicola was tragically found drowned in the River Wyre three weeks later.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard that Gaynor had mental health problems and had been diagnosed with epilepsy.
She is known to have had absence seizures as well as psychotic episodes and was on HRT during menopause.
The court was told in 2011 that Gaynor was taken to hospital after being found in a local pub worried that “aliens” were coming.
Two days before she disappeared, friend June Rudram said she saw Gaynor, who gave her Nicole’s comment.
Ms Rudram said the mum “reminisces about her family and her past” and “doesn’t stop talking”.
Then on December 8, Gaynor texted “help” to a contact on her phone who “died some time ago.”
In a further message, she wrote that she was “going crazy” and that she was “feeling fear”, the court heard.
Gaynor went missing hours later after leaving work early at Jarrold’s department store.
Footage from where she was working the gin counter showed her beaming as she clutched her bag before leaving the store.
Gaynor was later seen running through Norwich city center with haunted CCTV recording her last movements.
Mom seemed to be in a hurry and grabbed her coat as she dashed across the road between oncoming cars.
She then ran into the cathedral where she spent 30 minutes before being caught in the street.
A witness later said they saw a “calm” Gaynor in Wensum Park doing a yoga pose.
Her disappearance gripped the nation after police discovered her belongings – including clothes, two rings and a mobile phone – were found strewn around the park.
Gaynor’s olive coat, which she was seen holding in the video, was later found in the river that runs through the park.
The inquest was told that Gaynor was pulled from the water by specialist divers on December 15.
The cause of her death was submersion and drowning, and police found no indication of third-party involvement.
A timeline of Gaynor’s movements
December 8
14.44 – Gaynor working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement of Jarrold’s department store – her clothes are clearly visible
14.45-14.46 – Leaves the store via the loading ramp on Bedford Street
14.47 – Walk along London Street past the Cozy Club
14.48 – Gaynor enters Queens Street and walks towards the cathedral
15:22 – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the entrance to the cathedral – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts on her coat
15.23 – She is seen leaving the cathedral on Queens Street – you can see a clear picture of the coat she was wearing here
3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse in St George’s Street
15.53 – Walk along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
16:01 – Gaynor walking down St Augustines Street – her last movements caught on camera before she disappeared
Detective Sergeant Mike Cox said Gaynor’s body was “not clothed” and had been submerged 2.5 meters under water.
No alcohol or “drugs of abuse” were found in her blood and there was no evidence that she had been assaulted, the police report added.
Her husband Clive Lord told the court Gaynor seemed “absolutely fine” when she went to work that morning.
He also said they had planned a trip to Japan together before her death.
The inquest was told she had recently watched a TV show about cold water swimming.
Husband Clive said: “Gaynor recently watched a TV show about swimming in ice-cold water.
“She never did it herself, but I don’t know if in her confused state she might have thought about this.
“I don’t know that for sure – I’m just thinking why she would go into the water.”
Norfolk Police previously confirmed that they had consulted with Lancashire Police officers, who were working on the search for Nicola.
Jacqueline Lake, the senior coroner in Norfolk, ruled today that Gaynor died as a result of an accident.
She said she was satisfied that Gaynor “intended to go into the water, but I believe she did not intend to die because of her actions”.
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Gaynor’s disappearance has gripped the nationCredit: PA
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This is the last time Gaynor was caught on CCTV. Credit: SWNS
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She entered the cathedral the day she disappeared Credit: PA
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Gaynor was then seen walking towards the parkCredit: PA
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Her body was found in the River Wensum a week later
Categories: Optical Illusion
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