Nicola Bulley’s Partner Shares Heartfelt Family Update Three Years After Her Passing

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 24, 2026 2:07 PM ET

Nicola Bulley’s Partner Shares Heartfelt Family Update Three Years After Her Passing

Paul Ansell has spoken publicly about the trauma his family endured after Nicola Bulley went missing on January 27, 2023. He addressed the case and its fallout during a lecture at the London School of Economics in March 2026.

Timeline of the disappearance

Nicola left home on January 27, 2023, to walk her dog Willow by the River Wyre in Lancashire. She sent a message arranging a playdate and joined a Microsoft Teams meeting shortly after 9am.

The call ended around 9.30am, though her account remained logged in. About five minutes later, a dog walker found the bench where she had been sitting. Her phone, Willow’s harness and lead were left on the bench. Willow was later found running loose.

Family members were informed at about 10.50am. A large-scale search followed. Drones, helicopters and police dogs were deployed. The search lasted 23 days before Nicola’s body was recovered from the river.

Public reaction and online activity

The case drew intense national and online attention. At its height, the story generated about 6,500 news items in a single day. TikTok posts on the subject exceeded 270 million views.

Negative comments on Lancashire Police’s social pages rose by more than 450 percent. Conspiracy theories circulated. Some accounts wrongly implicated Ansell in the tragedy.

Access for influencers and police review

Police briefings were attended by social media influencers early in the inquiry. Lancashire Police later acknowledged an oversight allowing attendance without accreditation. The College of Policing called that a significant error.

The COP review warned that social media poses a serious and growing challenge for police forces. It said the online activity harmed community confidence in Lancashire Constabulary.

Disturbing content and financial gain

Even after Nicola’s body was found, troubling footage circulated online. One individual filmed the recovery of the body from the river. That content generated income.

A man later admitted earning nearly £900 in platform royalties from a clip showing the recovery. Such incidents intensified calls for better controls on social media during investigations.

Findings from the inquest and family response

An inquest concluded on June 27, 2023. The coroner found Nicola fell into the cold water and drowned almost immediately.

After the inquest, the family released a statement thanking supporters. They described the months following her death as extremely tough and asked for privacy to grieve.

Nicola’s parents expressed sorrow at online rumours. They affirmed Nicola and Paul were happy as a couple.

Paul Ansell’s account and family life today

Speaking for the first time in public in two years, Paul described intrusive media scrutiny from the start. He said broadcasters and social media analysis intensified the family’s distress.

He told listeners he still struggles with using the past tense for Nikki. He sees her mannerisms in their daughters every day. He remains determined to provide them with as normal a childhood as possible.

Paul continues to work as an engineer in Lancashire. The children attend local school and receive support from friends and family.

A personal and public message

As Nicola Bulley’s partner, Paul has offered what many have called a heartfelt family update. Some observers labelled the message a poignant moment three years after her passing.

Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments and report on community responses and policing recommendations related to the case.