Friends of missing nurse Victoria Taylor are gathering today to continue the search for the 34-year-old bride-to-be, who has now been missing for a week. The group, determined to find her, will focus their efforts along the riverbank of the River Derwent, where divers have been searching in recent days. The friends will meet at Malton station before setting out to the search site.
Ms. Taylor, a mother of one, was last seen at her home in Malton at 9 a.m. on Monday, October 2. CCTV footage captured her later that morning, at 11:35 a.m., at a BP garage in Welham Road in the Norton area of Malton. In the footage, she is wearing a camouflage cap and a black Adidas coat. Since then, her whereabouts remain unknown, prompting a major search effort by her family, friends, and authorities.
Police have recovered some of her belongings along the riverbank, including the camouflage cap seen in the CCTV footage and her salmon pink Vans rucksack. Bottles of soft drinks that Ms. Taylor was filmed purchasing at the petrol station were later found by her relatives in a clearing along the riverside path.
One of Ms. Taylor’s friends, Charlotte Cundill, has urged people to refrain from spreading speculation or theories about her disappearance, stating: “Mediums and psychics are not welcome on the page. We need facts and facts only right now.” Another friend, Helen Moran, confirmed that the CCTV footage indeed shows Ms. Taylor, and addressed concerns about potential misinformation: “She has NOT got on a train or bus. The CCTV has been reviewed and continues to be reviewed extensively.”
The search for Ms. Taylor has involved drones, police officers in kayaks, and an underwater search team combing the River Derwent. Additionally, officers have been reviewing hours of CCTV footage from around the area, while family and friends have been tirelessly scouring the surroundings in hopes of finding her.
Ms. Taylor’s last confirmed sighting was around noon on Monday, October 2, near the Riverside Playground, where she was seen by local residents walking along an overgrown path beside the river. Earlier in the day, she had been seen at her home with her fiancé, Matthew Williams, and their two-year-old daughter. Ms. Taylor and Mr. Williams later visited his parents’ house together, but Ms. Taylor left on her own and did not return.
Friends of the missing mother have reported unusual activity on her Instagram account, claiming it appeared “active” after her disappearance, raising questions about whether someone else was using her profile. However, there has been no official statement from Ms. Taylor’s family regarding this claim.
The community of Malton has rallied to support the search efforts, with residents offering assistance and sharing updates on social media. “The majority of Malton and several other areas are searching for you. I’m praying and hoping each and every day to hear good news,” one friend posted.
Anyone who has information on Victoria Taylor’s whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101, quoting reference 12240178710. Immediate sightings should be reported by calling 999.
