Claudia Lawrence note sparks fresh mystery in 12-year-old case: 'She's in the water'

The case of Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance has had a new development after a note was found in North Yorkshire last month.

Claudia went missing in March 2009 and police believe she was murdered, although no body has ever been recovered.

The 35-year-old was working as a chef at the University of York and a witness saw her walking home to Heworth.

She later called her parents and texted a friend but was never heard from again.

Claudia was reported missing two days later but a body was never discovered.

Now, a note has been found which reads: “God bless her, she is in the water.”

It was found next to some flowers in the spot where an extensive search operation took place last year which involved draining a lake in North Yorkshire.

The note also featured two arrows pointing in the same direction and a copy of the poster widely shared with Claudia's face on it.

A spokesperson from Claudia’s family confirmed that a note had been found and said: "It could be interpreted in all sorts of ways. There are clearly many parts that make up the jigsaw, and after 13 years it is high time the truth becomes clear and the public's vigilance in reporting information is vital.

“Information is going to find the answers here. It's really down to people to keep coming forward with information."

"I don't know what to think. It's an unusual situation for a member of the public to come across something like this," they told The Sun.

Police have said the person who left the note is known to them but not linked to their ongoing investigation.

Claudia’s father Peter Lawrence OBE died in February last year aged 74 after a short illness and never found out what happened to his daughter.

At the time, a statement was released on the Find Claudia website which read “He was a very private person thrust into the full glare of the media and despite a tireless campaign to find her, he also selflessly devoted himself to helping others with missing relatives through the charity Missing People.”