North Yorkshire: A secret loft was uncovered in Claudia Lawrence’s home, 16 years after the chef disappeared. It was initially missed by police.
Mysterious Discovery
Claudia, 35, vanished in 2009 after failing to arrive at work at York University on March 19. Friends grew concerned when she did not answer calls and failed to appear at The Nag’s Head pub. Her father was alerted, and authorities launched an extensive investigation.
Despite a £1.5 million search, police neither located Claudia nor the hidden loft. Officers had examined the house multiple times but overlooked the concealed compartment.
Recent Breakthrough
The hidden space was found by Claudia’s 81-year-old mother, Joan Lawrence, with assistance from a podcast team from The Mirror. They entered the cobweb-covered home in Heworth, York, and made the shocking discovery.
Claudia’s father, Peter Lawrence, had first visited the property in 2006 after being contacted by her friends. He passed away in 2021, nearly 12 years after her disappearance.
Extensive Investigations
Police launched two major investigations into Claudia’s disappearance. After five weeks, they escalated it to a murder inquiry, despite no body being found.
Searches continued until 2021, with authorities claiming they had examined the loft using a camera. However, the newly discovered hidden section had never been accessed before.
This latest finding has raised new questions about the case and whether crucial evidence was missed.
