DNA that was found in missing person Claudia Lawrence’s car has no match.
North Yorkshire Police can confirm the DNA forensic investigation work has now been completed in relation to the investigation of Claudia Lawrence.
Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said: “While these enquiries have been worthwhile and necessary to the investigation, they concluded without identifying a possible suspect or suspects from the DNA analysis.
“However, it demonstrates that we will continue to use forensic and other investigative work to progress this review.”
Detectives travelled across the country trying to match up the sample taken from Miss Lawrence’s car. North Yorkshire Police hoped to find a match that would lead them to a suspect, but they have drawn a blank.
The DNA sample was found on a cigarette in her car, this was in a garage due to being repaired when she vanished. There have been several arrests, but no one has ever been charged in connection with her disappearance.
The last ever contact with Claudia Lawrence was on the 18th March 2009 when she spoke to her mother by phone.
NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE
What is the case?
Claudia Lawrence was reported missing by her father Peter Lawrence on Friday 20th March 2009. This was after her friends became concerned as they had not heard from her since Wednesday 18th March 2009.
At the time of her disappearance, Claudia was aged 35 and worked as a chef at the University of York’s Goodricke College.
Claudia was due to walk the three miles to work on Thursday 19th March to begin her 6am shift but she never turned up. Her mobile phone, rucksack and chef’s whites she would have had on her have never been found.
Claudia was last sighted at around 3:05pm on Wednesday 18th March at the junction of Heworth Road and East Parade walking back towards her home on Heworth Road. She was captured on CCTV as she left work and as she walked home.
Claudia had spoken to her mum and dad on the phone on the Wednesday evening, her parents say she was in good spirits and nothing seemed unusual.
With no one hearing from her two days later and she failed to meet a friend for a pre-arranged drink at the pub, she was reported missing by her dad.
Claudia is described as white, around 5ft 6in tall, slim build, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and trainers.
Claudia’s phone was used four times on 18th March:
- At 19:27 her phone called her father, this was their last conversation.
- At 20:08 -20:27 Claudia exchanged texts with her friends.
- At 20:04 -20:14 Claudia and her mother speak on the phone
- At 21:12 the last text was received on Claudia’s phone and she failed to reply.
On 24th April 2009, after no information or evidence detectives say they were treating her disappearance as a suspected murder investigation.
There are many events from her disappearance case, here are some:
- 19th March 2009, 05:35 – a left hand smoker was seen with a woman on Melrosegate bridge. The sighting was reported to the police by a passing cyclist who was traveling towards Heworth Road. Neither man or woman has been identified but the woman’s description is very similar to Claudia’s.
- 19th March 2009, 05:42 – CCTV footage shows an old-style light-coloured Ford Focus hatchback car, manufactured between 1998 and 2004 was driving by Heworth Road. As it approaches Claudia’s house the car brake lights come on. Det Supt Malyn said: “If this is you driving at the time or know who it was, again it is very important that you come forward. The fact the car appears to brake may indicate you saw something that could be very important to us.”
- 19th March 2009, 06:55 – a passer-by recalls cycling by Claudia’s home and where there was a man standing outside her house. Police say the man is described as white, aged 55 to 65, about 6ft tall with a full head of medium-length grey hair which appeared scruffy and windswept. The witness did not see the male’s face.
- 19th March 2009, 06:10 – a man and women are seen arguing outside the University of York where Claudia worked. The sighing is 10 minutes after Claudia was due to start work. A member of the public said they were standing next to an unknown parked car and the passenger side door was open. Police said: “The fact that the apparent verbal altercation between the man and woman occurred outside the University of York at a time when Claudia would have been arriving at work on Thursday 19th March 2009, is obviously a cause for concern and suspicion”.
- 19th March 2009, 12:10 – Claudia’s Phone was deliberated turned off by someone.
Timeline of events from 6th May 2009 – 8th November 2018
- 6th May 2009 – Police reveal they have had more than 1,000 calls about the disappearance and had taken 1,096 statements
- 6th May 2010 – Claudia’s father calls for urgent independent inquiry into the police investigation
- 29th July 2010 – Police confirm they are scaling back on the number of officers dedicated to the case.
- 29th October 2013 – Police announce that a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence’s home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case.
- 13th May 2014 – A 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Claudia’s murder and later released on bail.
- 23rd July 2014 – a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Following questioning he was released on bail to allow for further investigation.
- 17th November 2014 – the 59-year-old man was realised from bail
- 25th February 2015 – Det Supt Dai Malyn stresses the importance to the investigation of the alleyway behind Claudia’s home on Heworth Road, near Lime Court, as further police searches are undertaken.
- 18th March 2015 – a CCTV appeal on the sixth anniversary of the investigation which showed a man acting suspiciously on Lime Court near Claudia’s home at around 7.15pm on 18 March 2009. This was about an hour before Claudia spoke to her mum and dad on her mobile phone; she has not been seen or heard of since.
- 23rd March -17th September 2015 – four local men were arrested on suspicion of murdering Claudia but were released from bail to allow time for the investigation team to prepare evidence.
- 8th March 2016 – Police revealed the Crown Prosecution Service had decided that the four men will not face any charges.
- 17th January 2017 – Police says the review into the case, which had cost £1 million is to be scaled down
- 8th November 2018 – Police are unable to identify DNA of a possible suspect.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and pass details to the Force Control Room quoting “Claudia Lawrence”.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and quote “Claudia Lawrence, North Yorkshire Police”.
