Claudia Lawrence Murder Arrest Just Weeks After Crimewatch Appeal

Man Arrested Over Claudia Lawrence Murder Just Weeks After Crimewatch Appeal
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A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence, weeks after police announced they had new evidence and made a fresh Crimewatch appeal.

Miss Lawrence went missing from her home in York in March 2009. In March this year, police announced a series of new lines of inquiry on the fifth anniversary of the day she was reported missing.

The announcement coincided with a new appeal on BBC's Crimewatch.

They said a new forensic examination of her house, in the Heworth area of York, uncovered the fingerprints of people who have not yet come forward.

They also found the DNA profile of an unknown man on a cigarette butt in the university chef's Vauxhall Corsa.

Regarding the arrest, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The investigation team would like to stress that Claudia has not been found. Police cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future as the review continues."

The spokesman said: "Detectives investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence have this morning arrested a 59-year-old man from York on suspicion of murder.

"Forensic examinations and searches are being conducted which are expected to be ongoing over a number of days. A car has also been seized as part of the inquiries."

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Missing chef Claudia Lawrence
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout photo of Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout photo of Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout of Claudia Lawrence with her father Peter, as police investigating the disappearance of the university chef were today searching a run-down property near her home. (credit:PA)
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout picture of Claudia Lawrence (right), who is believed to have gone missing as she walked to work in York, pictured with her friend Jen King (left). (credit:PA)
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout picture of Claudia Lawrence (left), who is believed to have gone missing as she walked to work in York, pictured with friends Simon Foreman and Suzy Cooper. (credit:PA)
Rights for families of missing people(06 of46)
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Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence, holds up poster of his missing loved one outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of him giving evidence at the UKs first Parliamentary Inquiry into the rights of families of missing people. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, the father of missing Claudia Lawrence, at the launch of the book 'Gone: The Disappearance of Claudia Lawrence and Her Father's Desperate Search for the Truth' by Neil Root, in Soho, central London. (credit:PA)
Miles for Missing People 10k run(08 of46)
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Peter Lawrence father of Claudia Lawrence and Rachel Elias sister of Richey Edwards from The Manic Street Preachers at the start of the Miles for Missing People 10k run, to help the charity that gives support to people who have family members that have gone missing or been abducted abroad or in the UK, at Clapham Common in south west London. The event marks International Missing Children's Day. (credit:PA)
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Forensic officers enter the home of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence in Heworth, York, as detectives launch a fresh review of the case. (credit:PA)
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Forensic officers enter the home of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence in Heworth, York, as detectives launch a fresh review of the case. (credit:PA)
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Forensic officers enter the home of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence in Heworth, York, as detectives launch a fresh review of the case. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, the father of missing Claudia Lawrence, at the launch of the book 'Gone: The Disappearance of Claudia Lawrence and Her Father's Desperate Search for the Truth' by Neil Root, in Soho, central London. (credit:PA)
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Police continue searching in St Nicholas Fields nature reserve in York for missing Claudia Lawrence. The 35-year-old of Heworth Road, York, was last seen on Wednesday afternoon at the University of York's Goodricke College and later spoke to her parents on the phone. (credit:PA)
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North Yorkshire Police search a field in the Outgang area of York, close to York University, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia Lawrence, reads a statement outside the Houses of Parliament, London, along side Rachel Elias (left), sister of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, and Jacqui Hoyland (right), wife of missing Jeremy Hoyland, ahead of them giving evidence at the UK's first Parliamentary Inquiry into the rights of families of missing people. (credit:PA)
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(left to right) Suzy Cooper, Peter Lawrence and Jen King. The father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence lights a candle on her birthday cake in York today, on the eve of her 36th birthday. He is joined by her friends, the Police Officer in charge of the investigation, and supporters of the Claudia Lawrence Awareness Day. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, 63, the Father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, pictured outside King's Cross station, London, where he is appealing to rail passengers to help find and bring home his daughter in time for Christmas. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, the father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, is joined by Det. Supt. Ray Galloway, as he releases balloons in York today, on the eve of her 36th birthday. He is joined by her friends, the Police Officer in charge of the investigation, and supporters of the Claudia Lawrence Awareness Day. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence stands next to a multi-media screen at Leeds Railway Station, Leeds which is showing an image of his daughter Claudia who has been missing from her York home for over eight months. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence (left), father of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence with James Brennan, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship at York Racecourse holding today's racecard carrying a missing person message inside. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence talks to members of the public about his daughter Claudia's disappearance in central York. (credit:PA)
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Police officers enter a terraced property in East Parade, Heworth, York as part of the ongoing investigation into missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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North Yorkshire Police handout CCTV image of a pick-up truck which was seen parked outside the house of chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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North Yorkshire Police handout CCTV image of a pick-up truck which was seen parked outside the house of chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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North Yorkshire Police handout CCTV image of a pick-up truck which was seen parked outside the house of chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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North Yorkshire Police handout CCTV image of a pick-up truck which was seen parked outside the house of chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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Undated North Yorkshire Police handout photo of the spot on Melrosegate Bridge where a witness saw a man and a woman at 5.35am on March 19 2009. Police are investigating the possibility the woman could have been missing chef Claudia Lawrence. (credit:PA)
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Embargoed to 0001 Tuesday April 7 Family handout of the latest poster showing missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence. The poster has been displayed on the campus of York University where she worked. (credit:PA)
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The father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence, Peter Lawrence (centre) speaks at a press conference at Church House, in Westminster, London, with Martin Dales (left) and the Director of Services at Missing People, Jo Youle on the three month anniversary of her disappearance. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence, the father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence, at a press conference at Church House, in Westminster, London, on the three month anniversary of her disappearance. (credit:PA)
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The scene outside the Nags Head pub in York, as police investigating the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence searched the pub, which is near her home, for a second time. (credit:PA)
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An actress is filmed walking down Melrosegate in York during the filming of a reconstruction for BBC programme Crimewatch reconstructing the last known movements of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence in York. (credit:PA)
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An actress is filmed walking down Melrosegate in York during the filming of a reconstruction for BBC programme Crimewatch reconstructing the last known movements of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence in York. (credit:PA)
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An actress is filmed walking down Melrosegate in York during the filming of a reconstruction for BBC programme Crimewatch reconstructing the last known movements of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence in York. (credit:PA)
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An actress is filmed accepting a lift in a car in Melrosegate, York during the filming of a reconstruction for BBC programme Crimewatch reconstructing the last known movements of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence in York. (credit:PA)
Launch of website to find Claudia(36 of46)
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Martin Dales, friend and spokesman for Peter Lawrence, launches the website www.findclaudia.co.uk during a press conference at the Worsley Arms Hotel, Hovingham, York. Peter Lawrence's daughter Claudia has been missing for 50 days. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence the father of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence at a Press Conference at York Police Station today where Det. Supt. Ray Galloway the Detective in charge of the investigation revealed the Police were now treating it as a murder inquiry. (credit:PA)
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Peter Lawrence (Left) the father of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence at a Press Conference at York Police Station today where Det. Supt. Ray Galloway (Right) the Detective in charge of the investigation revealed the Police were now treating it as a murder inquiry. (credit:PA)
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EMBARGOED TO 0001 TUESDAY APRIL 20. Peter Lawrence (right) with his spokesman Martin Dales, in Slingsby near Malton today as his daughter Claudia Lawrence remains missing. (credit:PA)
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Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, the North Yorkshire police detective in charge of the investigation into missing chef Claudia Lawrence, speaks to the media at York Police Station today. (credit:PA)
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Embargoed to 0001 Wednesday April 15 Peter Lawrence, left the father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence and Shaun McDonnell, sales director of York firm Flourish Innovations Ltd - the manufacturers of the Filpot with a 'Filpot' table-top box displaying images of missing chef Claudi Lawrence who has been missing for four weeks. (credit:PA)
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The Reverend Canon John Manchester (left) walks with Peter Lawrence (centre), father of missing Claudia Lawrence and family friend Martin Dales, outside St Mary's Priory Church, Old Malton, North Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
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Embargoed to 0001 Tuesday April 7 Peter Lawrence, father of missing York University chef Claudia Lawrence, during a personal press briefing at his home in Slingsby near Malton, North Yorkshire. (credit:PA)
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Police continue searching in St Nicholas Fields nature reserve in York for missing Claudia Lawrence. The 35-year-old of Heworth Road, York, was last seen on Wednesday afternoon at the University of York's Goodricke College and later spoke to her parents on the phone. (credit:PA)
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The father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence, Peter Lawrence at a press conference appealing for information about his daughter's whereabouts, in Fulford Road police station in York. (credit:PA)
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Police continue searching in St Nicholas Fields nature reserve in York for missing Claudia Lawrence. The 35-year-old of Heworth Road, York, was last seen on Wednesday afternoon at the University of York's Goodricke College and later spoke to her parents on the phone. (credit:PA)

Police are searching a house on Burnholme Grove, in York. The run-down semi is about half a mile from Miss Lawrence's house.

A police van was parked outside the property and a number of forensic science officer could be seen inside in white overalls.

The house, which has a drive and pebbled front garden, is about half-way down a quiet cul-de-sac.

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Police searched a house in York after the arrest

The police spokesman added: "Claudia's family have been notified and are being supported by trained officers."

North Yorkshire Police launched a review of the investigation last year after a new major crime unit was established by the force. It has always said detectives believed the chef had been murdered.

Miss Lawrence, who worked at York University, was 35 when she was reported missing by her father Peter on March 20 2009.

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Crimewatch released this CCTV of a car, believed to be a Ford Focus, seen driving on Lawrence's road the day of her disappearance

She was last seen at around 3.05pm on March 18, walking back towards her home, and that night she spoke to both her parents on the phone.

It is thought something happened to her after she left for work early on March 19.

A team led by Detective Superintendant Dai Malyn spent two months re-examining Miss Lawrence's small terrace home.

Police have said before that Miss Lawrence's mobile and rucksack have never been found.

Her father has mounted a five-year campaign to find his daughter.

At the anniversary in March, he discussed the "torture" his family had suffered through five years of not knowing what has happened to her.

One of the missing chef's friends, Jen King, said the arrest showed detectives were making progress. She told the York newspaper, The Press: "If it goes somewhere that's great but if not it shows the investigation is ongoing.

"It's a step towards this one day being resolved."

Ms Lawrence's father told The Press: "I'm very pleased they appear to be making progress by making this arrest."

Terry Ellis, who has lived in the cul-de-sac where police are searching the house since 1961, said: "The first thing I saw this morning was when the police investigation car came up.

"I thought that maybe someone had broken in, because he's had someone break in before."

Mr Ellis said he had been spoken to by detectives investigating Miss Lawrence's disappearance. He was one of a number of people in the street who were questioned because they were customers at the Nag's Head pub, close to her house.

Contractors arrived at the house later to begin boarding up windows.