Update on Victoria Taylor missing person case

This is an update to confirm the formal identification of 34-year-old Victoria Taylor, from Norton, Malton, following the recovery of a body from the River Derwent at 11.45am on Tuesday (22 October 2024).

A post-mortem examination has also been completed.

A file is being prepared for the Coroner for an inquest in due course.

Victoria’s family have been informed about this update. Our thoughts remain with them and we ask that their privacy is respected.

Issued at 4.04pm, 22 October 2024

An update on the search for Victoria Taylor

Today we have recovered a body in connection with the search for missing 34-year-old Victoria Taylor.

The police underwater search team made the discovery at 11.45am this morning in the River Derwent close to where Victoria's belongings were recovered.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but Victoria’s family have been informed of this development and understandably they are distressed by today’s news. Our specialist family liaison officers will continue to support them.

Victoria, who is from Norton near Malton, was reported missing on Tuesday 01 October. Since the initial report was received, we have carried out extensive searches to try and locate Victoria.

The scale of investigation undertaken by North Yorkshire Police has provided us with a detailed understanding of Victoria’s key movements within the time parameters of her disappearance.

As part of our strategy, we issued multiple appeals to the public and media for information. We would like to thank the members of the public who responded and assisted us with our enquiries.

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.

Whilst today’s outcome is not what anyone would have wished for, Victoria’s family have asked us to say that they are devastated and would like some space to be able to process the news, and our thoughts remain with them at this time. 

Watch the update from Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox: