Victoria Taylor: Nurse found dead in river three weeks after disappearance drowned, inquest told

An inquest has opened into the death of a North Yorkshire mum who was found dead in a river three weeks after she disappeared.

Victoria Taylor was reported missing on Monday, September 30. Her body was tragically discovered in the River Derwent on October 22.

An inquest heard that the 34-year-old nurse's from Malton died from drowning. The hearing was held at County Hall in Northallerton, on Thursday, November 7.

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Following her disappearance, North Yorkshire Police led extensive searches with support from the local community, friends, and family. Area coroner Catherine Cundy stated: "Miss Taylor was reported missing by her fiancé on October 1, 2024."

"Extensive searches were carried out and, sadly, Miss Taylor's body was recovered from the River Derwent in Malton on October 22." "Miss Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene", reports Yorkshire Live.

The brief five-minute hearing proceeded without any family members present and has been adjourned to an undetermined date. Police disclosed that Miss Taylor, who worked as a nurse in a care home, was found by divers near where some of her belongings had previously been found.

The search for Ms Taylor included specialist sonar equipment and the efforts of many local volunteers who conducted daily searches. Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox of North Yorkshire Police conveyed the family's distress at a press conference after the discovery of Miss Taylor's body.

He said: "The disappearance of Victoria has understandably had a wider impact on the communities of Malton and Norton. Those closest to Victoria have felt an enormous amount of heartache in the days after she went missing and have acknowledged how grateful they are for the overwhelming support from the community."

It was disclosed by authorities that Miss Taylor left her home at 9am on Monday September 30, and was subsequently sighted on CCTV at the BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton locality of Malton making several purchases at 11.35am. She was then seen at Malton bus station on Railway Street at 11.53am.

Added CCTV footage showed Miss Taylor walking towards the play park on Riverside Walk roughly at 12.30pm.

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