Victoria Taylor: Missing mum's last known steps as cause of death revealed at inquest

Missing mum 's cause of death at an inquest today.

The mother-of-one in Malton, North Yorkshire. A massive police hunt ensued, with locals launching a search party, before the 34-year-old's body was tragically recovered from the River Derwent three weeks later. Victoria was pronounced dead at the scene.

The with area coroner Catherine Cundy telling the five-minute hearing: "The provisional cause of death was drowning." Victoria, a much-loved nursing home nurse, has been described by her relatives as a "bundle of joy" and "one of the purest souls".

Officers were able to track some of the mum's last known moments using . She was seen at a local garage buying a Dr Pepper soft drink and a bottle of water before she was spotted walking towards the river. Here, the looks at Victoria's final steps before her tragic death...

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Final photo

Before her disappearance, Victoria's devastated fiancé, Matthew Grant Williams, shared a couple's selfie via - believed to be the last photograph taken of Victoria before she went missing. The black and white snap shows the couple, who'd recently returned from their first family holiday in Majorca, posing in a lift.

After Victoria's disappearance, Matthew spoke to , while cuddling their two-year-old daughter. The emotional father said: "I hope she comes back safely. Obviously, this one is missing her mam. We are all hoping she comes back. She was dedicated to her job, dedicated to us, and we had just returned from a lovely holiday. It is just sad."

He continued: "I am just heartbroken for this one. I know Vikki wanted this one to have the best opportunities in life - the opportunities she never had. It breaks my heart. We live in hope, don't we kid. She was such a good mother to this kid and I hope she can be a good mother again."

Leaving home

At 9am on Monday, October 1, Victoria was last seen at her Malton home, and it's understood she had been heading towards the library in Commercial Street. Victoria, who is described as white and approximately 5ft 6in, 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.

CCTV footage

At 11.35am, CCTV images show Victoria going into a store inside a BP garage on Welham Road in the Norton area of the town, where she purchased a Dr Pepper. The footage was released by during the search.

Inspector Martin Dennison said: "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."

Walk to park

Victoria was later recorded at 11.53am at Malton bus station on Railway Street, while additional showed her walking towards the play park on Riverside Walk at 12.30pm.

Body found

Assistant Chief Constable Fox announced the news Victoria's body had been found on October 22. He shared: "Today we've recovered a body in the search for missing 34-year-old Victoria Taylor. The police underwater search team made the discovery at approximately 11.45 am this morning."

He told a press briefing: "The disappearance of Victoria has understandably had a wider impact on the communities of Norton and Malton. Victoria's family and those closest to her have understandably felt enormous amount of heartache since the day she was reported missing, and they've previously acknowledged just how grateful they are to the local community for the overwhelming level of support that they have had as a family.

"Whilst today's outcome is not what anybody would wish for, Victoria's family have again asked me to express their thanks to all of those who've supported North Yorkshire Police and other emergency services in our efforts to locate Victoria. They've also asked me to ask for time and space for them as a family to come to terms with the information, the news that they've been provided with today. And our thoughts remain very much with them at this time."