Following the discovery of Nicola Bulley’s body, her partner has spoken out against the online obsession with her disappearance, describing it as a “monster” that spiraled out of control. In an interview with the BBC, Paul Ansell revealed the family initially thought the online interest was a positive thing, as it could have helped keep the case in the public eye. However, quickly, a wave of social media sleuths began posting hurtful and misleading claims about the case. As a result, the family began receiving online hate, which they found distressing. “I think anything like that is a double-edged sword, you’re poking a monster,” he said.
Nicola Bulley, a mother of two, went missing on 27th January 2023 whilst out for a walk with her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre, soon after she had dropped her children off at school. Her body was discovered on the 19th of February in a river. An inquest in June last year concluded that her cause of death was due to accidental drowning.
In a documentary titled “the Search For Nicola Bulley”, the show examines the impact of amateur internet sleuths conducting their own investigations in an effort to raise awareness and find Bulley. The program also features Lancashire Police and the family of Nicola Bulley.
The family describes how they were devastated during the search for her. Paul Ansell explains that when Nicola didn’t return home at the usual time, he became increasingly worried as the children’s school rang to say somebody had found their dog and Nicola’s phone by a bench. Throughout the search, social media personalities began traveling to Lancashire to see what they could find, causing further distress to the family. At the same time, the family was subjected to an increasing amount of online hate.
Despite these challenges, the family has remained supportive of one another, and Ansell believes that Nicola’s spirit perseveres in the faces of their two daughters. “I see her in the girls every single day. I see all these little mannerisms in them and I’m like ‘that was Mummy, you know?’ And that is worth everything, I think,” he said.
The documentary is set to be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, furthering the case’s exposure and helping the family in their grieving process.
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