A body has been found in the hunt for missing mother Victoria Taylor after a police search lasting three weeks.
Police this afternoon revealed they had recovered a body from a river believed to be the 34-year-old.
The care home nurse was last seen on September 30 at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, which she shared with her fiancé and two-year-old daughter.
Some of her possessions were later recovered near the River Derwent, leading police to believe there was a ‘significant possibility’ she had entered the fast-flowing water.
And today at a press conference outside York Police Station, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox confirmed the discovery of a body.
Her family had previously told how ‘sick and distraught’ they felt and how they were trying to maintain a sense of routine for her young daughter during a ‘difficult time’.
But the news today appeared to confirm their worse fears as officers said the body had been found near to Ms Taylor’s belongings.
Assistant Chief Constable, Wayne Fox, told a press conference at Fulford police station in York: ‘Today we have recovered a body in connection with the search for Victoria Taylor.
‘The police underwater search team made the discovery at 11.45am this morning in the River Derwent near to where Victoria’s items were recovered.’
Victoria left her home around 9am on Monday, September 30, with her husband Matthew and their two-year-old daughter. She was Facetiming siblings.
Matthew and Victoria then left with their daughter to visit his parents. Victoria then left his parents’ house and did not return, her sister Heidi Baker said.
She is believed to have been heading towards a community library.
She was captured on CCTV buying a bottle of Dr Pepper and a bottle of water at a nearby BP garage at 11.35am and at Malton bus station at 11.53am.
Victoria, who was originally from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, then walked past a children’s play park before joining a path running alongside the Derwent.
Police quickly ruled out any suggestion of a third party being involved in her disappearance and concentrated their search on a stretch of water close to where some of Victoria’s belongings, including a rucksack and a camouflage cap, were found on a riverbank.
She was last spotted wearing blue jeans, a Adidas original puffer jacket with white stripes down the sleeves and a grey Jack Wills hooded jumper.
ACC Fox added: ‘While today’s outcome is not what anyone wished for, Victoria’s family have asked me to express thanks to those who supported North Yorkshire Police and the emergency services.’
On October 4, her fiancé Matthew issued a plea for the ‘dedicated’ mother to come home. Clutching their daughter, he broke down in tears as he said: ‘I hope she comes back safely.’
Staring lovingly at the child, he continued: ‘Obviously, this one is missing her mam. We are all hoping she comes back.
‘She was dedicated to her job, dedicated to us, and we had just returned from a lovely holiday. It is just sad.’
He continued: ‘As soon as we reported her missing, knowing her very well we went looking around the area where the police had been.
‘Since then, with the weather and everything, I just want to be here for this one.’
Matthew confirmed he and Victoria were due to get married, but had not set a date, having just returned from their first family holiday in Majorca.
‘I am just heartbroken for this one. I know Vikki wanted [our daughter] to have the best opportunities in life – the opportunities she never had. It breaks my heart.’
Cuddling his daughter at the time, he sobbed: ‘We live in hope, don’t we kid. She was such a good mother to this kid and I hope she can be a good mother again.’
Last week her family said in a statement via North Yorkshire Police: ‘There are no words for us to describe how we are feeling as it’s ever-changing.
‘We have to have some sort of normality for the children. As we know, Vixx is a mum but also an auntie and Halloween is one of her favourite seasons as she is the costume queen!
‘We would like to thank the police teams as they are doing all they can, and we understand that these things take time.
‘The local community is amazing, from putting up posters to the daily walks to search for Vixx. We would like to thank the special people, you know who you are.
‘The wider community on the Facebook page with over 10,000 people sharing Vixx’s information and sending support has given us comfort. We continue to have hope, as it is all we have at this time.’
Large missing posters were put up in the town centre and along the A64 road between York and Scarborough during the three-week search.
Amateur sleuths were accused of hampering the search by peddling baseless theories online over the disappearance.
Psychics, mediums and TikTok armchair detectives have all come under fire for speculating on her whereabouts.
A North Yorkshire spokesperson said: ‘Today we have recovered a body in connection with the search for missing 34-year-old Victoria Taylor.
‘The police underwater search team made the discovery at 11.45am this morning in the River Derwent close to where Victoria’s belongings were recovered.
‘Formal identification is yet to take place, but Victoria’s family have been informed of this development and understandably they are distressed by today’s news. Our specialist family liaison officers will continue to support them.
‘Victoria who is from Norton near Malton was reported missing on Tuesday 01 October. Since the initial report was received, we have carried out extensive searches to try and locate Victoria.
‘The scale of investigation undertaken by North Yorkshire Police has provided us with a detailed understanding of Victoria’s key movements within the time parameters of her disappearance.
‘As part of our strategy, we issued multiple appeals to the public and media for information. I personally would like to thank the members of the public who responded and assisted us with our enquiries.
‘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.
‘Whilst today’s outcome is not what anyone would have wished for, Victoria’s family have asked me to say that they are devastated and would like some space to be able to process the news, and our thoughts remain with them at this time.’
