Victoria Taylor missing: Tragic similarity to Jay Slater's case as family block 'sick' post

's frantic family have now had to deal with yet another terrible shock - after being targeted by 'sick' trolls. And sadly, they aren't the only ones.

The search for the missing mum has now entered its eighth day, and it's understood that a hurtful post has only added to their unimaginable anguish. Victoria, 34, was last seen at her home in at around 9am on Monday, September 30.

CCTV footage from a petrol station shows her purchasing a soft drink a couple of hours later. What happened to Victoria next remains a mystery, and loved ones continue to hold out hope of bringing her home safe and well as the major search continues.

On Thursday, October 3, . In the days since, divers have been scouring the water. Police have now said there is "no information to suggest any form of third-party involvement" in her disappearance.

READ MORE:

Those in the community have banded together to find Victoria, a well-liked nursing home nurse, amid an outpouring of sympathy for her heartbroken fiancé, Matthew Grant Williams, and their two-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, the case has also attracted a fair bit of cruelty, with a 'disgusting' post shared via The Search for Victoria Taylor causing upset to loved ones.

The post falsely claimed that Victoria had been found and that police would be issuing a statement shortly. After deleting the post and blocking the author, Victoria's sister, Emma Worden, clarified that it was incorrect. She told followers: "Please do not believe what people post, the idiot has been blocked.

"If our Vixx has been found are the police going to go on this group and tell a randomer to phone me, Heidi or Matthew? The updated post will be updated when we know info or want to share it we will do it on our future post. Again more stress created for us."

Expressing their best wishes, one Facebook user reassured Emma: "One day he'll find karma will come round to him. I'm so sorry it happened but well done for your quick response. I don't know Vixx but I know people who do and they have nothing but good things to say about her. As a mum and a nana, I send my love and prayers to her family and friends as you all face another day."

Another commented: "Some people have nothing better to do than cause unnecessary distress to others. I'm so very sorry that this happened."

Meanwhile, Victoria's devastated partner Matthew has also had to contend with trolls pointing the finger of blame at him, as internet sleuths spread vile slurs and nasty rumours. Sadly, Matthew is said to be 'absolutely devastated' by the accusations, which come as he tries desperately to care for his daughter at an extraordinarily difficult time.

In one public group set up to help support the search, one person remarked: "It's sad to see people pointing the finger at her partner. It's cruel as he is going through enough already without people doing that." Another individual, who appears to know Matthew personally, replied: "It really is, he's absolutely devastated."

Sadly, this is far from the only missing person's case where online bullies have deliberately targeted a family in peril. Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, previously opened up about her agonising battle with trolls who went as far as to send her disturbing mock-up images of her son being tortured.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay vanished on June 17 while holidaying in Tenerife with pals. Four weeks later, any lingering hopes were dashed when the teenager's body was found in a desolate ravine. Rather than leave the Slater family in peace, evil social media users took it upon themselves to send Debbie fake pictures of Jay with a gash beneath his eye and a chain around his neck, captioned, 'We have your son'.

Debbie told : "I have tried to block it out but you can't. However, if I had paid attention to all of them I'd be in a padded cell. I had another message that read: 'I'll give you one warning your son won't be coming back he owes us enough f***ing money kiss goodbye to him'."

In a new documentary, The Search For , Nicola's partner of 12 years, Paul Ansell, spoke of the garage ofhe faced during the 23-day search for the 45-year-old mum-of-two, who vanished during a dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire. Tragically, Nicola's body was later pulled from the River Wyer, following a widespread search which attracted an alarming number of amateur sleuths.

Speaking in the doc, grieving Paul shared how he'd only held things together for the sake of their two daughters after intense online interest spiralled into a 'monster' that all too quickly spiralled out of control. Paul recalled: "I think anything like that is a double-edged sword. That's the problem. You're poking a monster. It wasn't a huge part of our lives. But yeah, when you experience something like this, you realise what a huge monster it can be, I guess."

He continued: "I was getting direct messages from people that I've never met. They don't know me, they don't know us, they don't know Nikki. They know nothing about us. Just messages like 'you b******'. 'We know what you did'. 'You know you can't hide Paul', that kind of stuff.

"There was some that I felt like replying to, but then if you reply to that, they'll just screenshot your reply, if that'll end up on social media. And so you're literally silenced, and you can't do anything about it."

Inspector Martin Dennison, from North Yorkshire Constabulary, said of Victoria's case on Thursday: "We are very concerned about Victoria's whereabouts and, like her family and friends, just want to see her safe and well. I would urge the public to be cautious if looking for Victoria near the river.

"Our officers have specialist training and equipment, and they are used to working in various terrains. If you do have any information which can help with the search then please call us 101. Any immediate sightings should be reported to 999."

Victoria is described as white and approximately 5ft six inches tall. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black Adidas original puffa jacket with white stripes down the sleeves and a grey Jack Wills hooded jumper. Any immediate sightings of Victoria should be reported to police on 999. If you have any information, call 101 and quote reference 12240178710.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com.

READ MORE: