Missing woman’s final moments captured on CCTV before heartbreaking discovery near River Dee

In a devastating turn of events, police searching for 39-year-old Lucy Charles have announced the recovery of a body from the River Dee, bringing a tragic end to the search for the missing woman. Lucy Charles was last seen walking past a pub in Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham, at 5:34 pm on December 22, 2023. The discovery follows an extensive search effort launched after her belongings were found on the riverbank.

Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts, addressing the somber development, stated, “Formal identification is yet to take place, but Lucy’s family have been informed, and are being supported by specialist officers. The local Coroner has also been informed. My thoughts are with Lucy’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

The search intensified after officers released CCTV footage capturing Lucy’s last known movements just days before Christmas. The footage showed her walking past the pub, adorned in a hi-vis jacket. The poignant discovery of her personal belongings on the bank near the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works prompted specialized efforts by officers, including the North West Underwater Search Team.

Throughout the search, authorities had urged the public to avoid approaching the water, citing flood risks due to adverse weather conditions. Lucy Charles’s disappearance has now reached a tragic conclusion, leaving a community in mourning and her family and friends grappling with the heartbreaking news.

As the formal identification process unfolds, the community awaits further updates on the circumstances surrounding Lucy Charles’s disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her body in the River Dee. The tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the impact of such losses on the communities they touch.