Jess Hardiman
The body found in the River Wensum has been confirmed to be that of mum-of-thee Gaynor Lord.
"Police can confirm the body of woman found in the River Wensum in Norwich on Friday has been formally identified as Gaynor Lord," Norfolk Constabulary said in a statement issued today (Monday 18 December).
Lord, 55, had been missing since she left work at Jarrolds department store in Norwich on the afternoon of Friday 8 December.
She was not due to finish her shift until 4pm, but was seen leaving at 2.45pm.
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Her possessions were later found in Wensum Park just after 8pm, with the mum-of-three identified from ID found in her handbag.
Lord’s clothing - which she had been wearing when she went missing and included a white shirt, yellow tank top, two rings and her mobile phone and glasses - were found in the park in various locations, while her olive-coloured coat was discovered in the River Wensum.
Police began conducting a search of the park and river, with divers eventually recovering a body.
Police have now confirmed the body found in the river was indeed Lord's, saying: "Extensive searches took place last week and on Friday morning (15 December) specialist underwater teams discovered Gaynor’s body.
"A Home Office post-mortem examination carried out on Saturday (16 December) found no indications of any third-party involvement and the death is not being treated as suspicious.
"While the Home Office Pathologist awaits the results of the toxicology before formally confirming cause of death, early indications are consistent with drowning.
"Gaynor was formally identified yesterday (17 December), subject to formal inquest proceedings taking place."
The force added: "Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance and a file is being prepared for the coroner."
Supt Wes Hornigold from Norfolk Constabulary previously said Lord was considered a ‘high-priority’ missing person as it was very out of character for her to vanish like this.
“Gaynor has been a high-priority missing person from the outset because of the nature of her disappearance and because this is so out of character,” Hornigold said earlier this week.
"As time goes by our concerns increase - as do the family’s as well, so we are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.
“We are working with people in the cathedral to try and understand what happened.”
Lord’s step-brother Allan Weston also reiterated how out-of-form her disappearance was, making a desperate appeal for information.
He said: "We just hope she comes back safe.
“If anyone does know anything please come forward.
“It's been a few days now since she went missing so we are very worried. This is proper out-of-character.
“She has never gone missing or anything like that before."