In his first interview two weeks after her disappearance, Paul Ansell said he wanted to “keep all options open”.
While he didn’t want to appear critical of Lancashire Police, whose “working hypothesis” remained that she had fallen in the water, he said it was always his “gut instinct” that she hadn’t.
Speaking to Channel 5 News, Ansell said: “Personally, I am 100% convinced it’s not the river. That’s my opinion,” reports Metro.
Mrs Bulley went missing on 27 January while walking her Springer Spaniel dog, Willow, along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre.
She had driven her daughters to school, aged six and nine, and was in her usual way when she disappeared.
Her phone – still connected to a call for her job as a mortgage consultant – was found on a bench overlooking the river.
Despite an extensive search of the river and surrounding countryside by Lancashire Police, no trace of her was found.
Detectives have ruled out foul play and are treating the incident as a missing person investigation, believing that Ms. Bulley fell into the water, reports Metro.
However, police say they are still “open” and have asked for information.
They have been given extra powers to dismantle groups causing trouble in the village amid reports of amateur detectives traveling to the area and filming the properties on social media.
Officials had previously warned the public not to take the law into their own hands by breaking into empty or abandoned riverside buildings to try and find Ms Bulley.
Mr Ansell asked with the police to widen their search from the river and to examine ‘every house, every garage and every outbuilding’, adding: ‘I want it all searched. I want it all scrutinised, reports Metro.
“Nikki would never give up on us ever. She wouldn’t give up on anybody. And we’re not going to ever give up on her, we’re going to find her,” reports Metro.
Speaking of his children, Ansell continued: “The only thing, the only thing that I can do is tell them that everybody is looking for mummy,” reports Metro.
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