FRI AM: Missing Claudia case now being treated as murder

Apr 24 2009 By Huddersfield Examiner

The detective leading the hunt for missing chef Claudia Lawrence today said the investigation had been classified as suspected murder.

Miss Lawrence, 35, was last seen five weeks ago near her home after she finished work at the University of York’s Goodricke College.

At a news conference in York, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway said: "At the moment we have no proof of Claudia’s death. However, five weeks on from her disappearance we also have no proof of her life.

"The investigation is now being formally classified as one of suspected murder."

Mr Galloway said he had not given up hope but was ``looking at this investigation from a technical perspective''.

Miss Lawrence’s father, Peter Lawrence, who was at the news conference, said he understood why the police were now treating his daughter’s disappearance as murder but said he believed she was still alive.