Police have stated that they believe missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley "has sadly fallen into the river," BBC News reports.
The announcement comes a week after Bulley went missing while walking her dog Willow near the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
According to Lancashire Police, their "main working hypothesis" was that she had fallen into the River Wyre and that this was "not suspicious but a tragic case of a missing person".
Bulley was last seen at 9:00 AM local time on January 27 where she was walking her dog on Upper Field, Supt Sally Riley said.
Her partner had recently spoken out for the first time since she went missing, revealing his despair and saying that the ordeal feels "like a dream."
Bulley's disappearance was noted at around 10:30 AM the same morning after a dog walker noticed her brown springer spaniel looking distressed, with no owner in sight.
Her phone was also found on a park bench sitting opposite the river with it still connected to a work conference call.
Bulley's partner Paul Ansell has spoken out for the first time, telling Sky News that it seems "absolutely impossible" that she hasn't been found yet.
Ansell told reporters that his main focus is to stay strong for the couple's two young daughters - nine-year-old Harriet and six-year-old Sophia.
"I just can't believe that we're a week on, and as yet, it seems like we're no further on. it just seems absolutely impossible, just like a dream. I can't get my head around any of it," he told Sky News.
Ansell took a moment to show his gratitude for those searching for Bulley: "I just want to say a massive thank you to the community, friends, for everything that they're doing."
He added that he has replayed every scenario "around and around" in his head, but that "every single scenario comes to a brick wall."
Ansell expressed that it's almost as if his partner "vanished into thin air" as, after a week of searching, there had been no progress in finding her.
He also had the heartbreaking task of telling their two young daughters that their mother was missing and was unsure how long he could keep up appearances.
Speaking to The Sun, Bulley's mother Dorothy said: "He just said, 'Mommy’s lost,'" while Ansell's dad David added: "They cried their eyes out."
This is a breaking news story, more to follow...
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