Missing woman's home 'broken into twice after secret attic discovery'

Irish Daily Mirror

29-04-2025

The mother of Claudia Lawrence has expressed her shock after finding out that her missing daughter's house had been broken into not once, but twice. In a startling turn of events described as "frightening," Joan suspects that an intruder may have targeted her daughter's home following the revelation of a hidden attic and new evidence.
Joan was appalled to find an internal door she always locks wide open, the front door lock scratched and bent, a shelf unit moved, clothes missing from Claudia's wardrobe, and the attic hatch damaged and tampered with. Claudia was 35 when she disappeared without a trace after failing to show up for work at York University on March 19, 2009, leading to one of the UK's largest unresolved murder cases.
Her breakfast bowls were left in the kitchen sink and her slippers by the door. Since then, her home has remained untouched, with her clothes and belongings left as they were.
Joan Lawrence, 81, regularly visits the house as part of the home insurance conditions. On January 3 this year, she discovered a small attic hatch hidden in a built-in wardrobe in Claudia's bedroom.
She made this discovery while visiting the house with journalist and 'Answers for Claudia' podcaster Tom McDermott, reports the Mirror.
The investigators also discovered a tissue and a partially used packet of chewing gum inside a black leather jacket, which they believe may hold crucial DNA evidence. However, when Joan returned to the house a few days after the podcast episode discussing the find was released and the Mirror's coverage on February 27, she was shocked to discover signs of a potential break-in.
Joan recounted: "I was absolutely shell-shocked - I got one hell of a shock. I still don't know how they got in. It makes me feel a bit creepy going there on my own, that somebody's been in. I will go in daylight. It's made me really nervous and I can't go in the house on my own now."
During a follow-up visit to the house with the Mirror and the podcast team on April 11, evidence of a possible second break-in was uncovered. Tom, a journalist and podcaster who has been working with Joan for two years, expressed his concern, stating that he was "shaken" and described the situation as "frightening".
He told the Mirror that someone was clearly "rattled" and that he was left "speechless" by the discovery of a second potential break-in.
Tom speculated: "I think someone is getting nervous out there. In episode nine, 'Moving the Dial', we revealed the attic had been found. Now we've had a double disturbance at Claudia's house. Somebody is clearly very rattled."
Speaking to The Mirror at the house, Tom, who has struck up a strong friendship with Joan, says: "Somebody has been here, twice! That's very disturbing and it's frightening because Joan is now visiting this house on a regular basis knowing someone else has been there."
He also mentioned to us: "It looks like a professional job because there's no break in through a window, or damage to the doors, it's either somebody who has a key or who knows how to break into houses. I think the disturbance was nothing to do with the loft but more to do with clothing and that tissue."
Despite both Joan and Tom reporting each occurrence, North Yorkshire Police have not yet made an appearance at the property for an investigation, something Joan remarks does "not surprise" her. Tom revealed to us: "We've reported both incidents to the police, they want to speak to Joan and arrange a time to visit. " The Mirror has been informed that the chief detective in the case intends to visit the residence after Joan consented to a meeting.
Reflecting on the recent troubles at the beginning of the year, Tom detailed how they initially discovered the attic was accessed when they visited the house following a clue given on their podcast. A certain Dave had tipped them off, claiming to have seen Claudia strolling near Wetherby on the A1 at about 3am on the morning of the 18 wearing a leather jacket.
Tom recounted: "Joan suggested 'shall we go upstairs and see if there are any that match the description?' We ascended and found four leather jackets and one that could potentially be mistaken for a leather jacket. As we were examining those, I noticed the hatch and queried Joan about it, which she was unaware of.
"We retrieved the jacket from the wardrobe and Joan rummaged in the pockets, discovering an Extra chewing gum packet and then exclaimed; 'Oh my God what is this?" She unearthed some used tissue evidently dating back to 2009 or whenever Claudia last donned the jacket. "".
Following the discovery, a podcast was launched and a few days later, in February, they returned to the house only to encounter the first signs of suspicious activity.
"We entered through the front door and found the inner back door wide open, which alarmed Joan as she hadn't left it that way. There had been a disturbance," Tom shared with us. "Joan is so meticulous that she always double checks. It was a shock."
A light green dress that Claudia wore on Millennium eve, previously hung up, was now discarded on the floor. Joan emphasised her habit of 'meticulously' securing that internal door after every visit, but upon their arrival, it was "wide open".
"I always shut that door and go back and check," she insisted.
Then, as Joan and Tom proceeded upstairs to the bedroom to inspect for any disturbances, he relayed how she cried out: 'And that hatch was not left open. '.
The attic hatch had been nudged back into the loft, "quite a way back" according to Tom, and the "piece of wood" he'd left on the attic floor, presumably a table leg, was now oddly standing upright, positioned on the right.
During a recent sit-down with Joan and the podcast crew, The Mirror got an exclusive look at the attic following the unsettling break-in. It was there that Joan revealed to us the disappearance of not only the tissue they'd previously found but also four of Claudia's clothing items.
Upon reaching Claudia's charming stone terrace along the bustling Heworth street, Joan recounted to The Mirror team her shock at the intrusion: "I was quite shocked to discover it had been broken into."
As she prepares to unlock the door, Joan pauses, sensing something amiss with the lock, telling us it "feels different."
Fumbling with the keys, she remarks: "It was absolutely solid. It wasn't like that. Because the locksmith that did this is a craftsman."
Stepping inside, she immediately notices signs of tampering, pointing out scratches and a bend on the lock mechanism, asserting, "Look there's scratches on the lock and it's bent. These are women's instincts. Can you see the dent there?" She then draws attention to a small wicker bookcase by the entrance, which appears to have been jostled, suggesting someone may have bumped into it while entering.
After a thorough check of the ground floor, we venture into Claudia's backyard, before ascending the bare, tack-exposed stairs.
Upstairs, Joan makes another disheartening discovery – the wardrobe has been "tampered" with yet again.
"There's something not right," she declares, gesturing towards the attic hatch. Tom notes that the hatch has been incorrectly replaced upside down, causing damage to its frame.
Insulation material can be seen peeking out from beneath the entrance.
Mark Sandell, a podcast producer who diligently records their visits using an audio boom microphone, also draws attention to the damaged wood surround of the hatch, exclaiming: "The corner's hanging off!".
Joan reacts with surprise, questioning: "Wasn't it the white side? You will see on your audiotape? There's something not right."
She scrutinises the clothes below and remarks: "There's something not right about this lot. There's something fallen off. There wasn't an empty hanger."
Referring to the clothing shelves, she continues: "That was thinned out and it looks like someone has piled it back up again. Somebody has taken something that was on there."
Tom turns to his producer from 6foot6, Mark Sandell, and queries: "We didn't leave it like that did we?"
He receives confirmation: "No, we definitely didn't leave it like that."
Tom recalls: "There was a piece of wood in there, a lot of insulation...I put the piece of wood to the left of the door."
Joan chimes in: "There's a few empty hangers."
Tom gestures towards the 3ft square entrance, adding: "That hatch was left upside down. I put it back with the white side showing not the wood..." His eyes search for a previously discovered tissue, noting: "And the tissue is missing."
As Joan sifts through the large pine chest of drawers still brimming with Claudia's clothes, she remarks: "We never found her nightwear or her makeup."
Joan suspects that a pair of jeans or trousers may be missing, noting: "The cupboards on the right had been disturbed. There were fewer clothes in there...were they disturbed?".
She informs The Mirror that the police don't have keys to the house and "can't get in there without me".
After our departure, she asserts: "It's been tampered with. I'm a bit nervous when I come on my own now but I know I will get no protection from the police, once they used to patrol round and check if someone is coming in and out."
When asked how she feels about the police not investigating, she responds: "It doesn't surprise me. I'm sad to say." Following our exit, Tom reflects on their two-year investigation: "The reaction to the podcast has been a bit overwhelming really, we have good communication with the police and the public stop us in the street to speak to Joan." Referring to the shelves of clothes, she adds: "It's more important to me than ever because every time I speak to Joan it keeps me motivated.
"It's unimaginable to really understand what Joan is going through." Producer Mark comments: "I think for many people because Joan is at the centre of this podcast and it's for her, it is seen as very much the last chance. There are encouraging signs that we are going to generate some answers for Joan. The police and Tom are engaging in mature discussions.
"People continue to provide information. And we've clearly unsettled someone who has entered this house," he stated. Highlighting the potential importance of the chewing gum, Mark shared that a criminologist suggested it could contain crucial DNA evidence as it's often shared among people.
"My impression is that something is happening out there. We titled episode 9 'Moving the Dial', and indeed, something is shifting." Tom chimed in: "We made a promise to Joan to keep Claudia's name and memory alive throughout the year, not just on the anniversary of her disappearance or on Mother's Day.
"We strive to honour that commitment. It does feel like there's a shift happening, not only in terms of the information we're receiving and our relations with the police, but also in the behaviours of some key individuals who may potentially have been involved. I believe it's unsettling someone.
"I think the disturbance in the house is significant, regardless of whether it's a local person following the case or someone connected to Claudia's fate.
"For me, this is a pivotal moment in our investigation. As you can see, someone has entered Claudia's house and disturbed things. Is it a message? Are they trying to communicate with us or Joan? We sense a change. We hope we're correct because Joan needs answers."
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police has commented: "We've been made aware of Mrs Lawrence's concerns that some items have been moved inside the property."
They added, "We have contacted Mrs Lawrence to discuss this, but as yet we have not been given access to the property, which would allow us to investigate further." The police representative also stated, "As always, we continue to assess the information we receive in relation to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia, and we urge members of the public to pass on anything that could assist the investigation.
"We're also committed to engaging with and supporting Claudia's family in any way we can."