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The disappearance of Claudia Lawrence is a case concerning a 35-year-old chef at the University of York who has been a missing person since March 2009. The last confirmed sighting of her was in Melrosegate, Heworth, an area of York.

Last known whereabouts
Lawrence was last seen nearing her home in Heworth, York, on the afternoon of 18 March, as she returned from her work as a chef at the University of York's Goodricke College at the Roger Kirk Centre. That evening she spoke to her parents by telephone, making plans with her mother to spend Mother's Day together. Lawrence later sent a text message to a friend and has not been heard from since then. The last text message from her was sent at 8:23pm, and her last received message, from a bar worker in Cyprus, was at 9:12pm. Lawrence's passport and bank cards were left at her home when she went missing.

Reported missing
Lawrence was reported missing after she failed to arrive at work for her early morning shift the following day. Police are now treating her disappearance as a suspected murder.

Speaking on the BBC 'Today' programme on 4 June 2009, Lawrence's father Peter said he doubted police claims that she had a secret life. He queried the comments made by Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway on BBC Crimewatch programme, specifically that parts of Claudia's life "remain a mystery" and that police believe she had "complicated relationships" that her family and friends knew nothing about. However, he later said that he "did not recognise" his daughter after the claims that had been made about her personal life.

Six weeks after Lawrence went missing, the investigation into her disappearance was reclassified from a missing person's case to a suspected murder enquiry, although police have acknowledged they have no proof Lawrence is dead.

Case progress
The independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has offered a reward of £10,000 to anyone providing information which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person linked to the disappearance. Police have said that any past personal acquaintances of Lawrence have a limited time to come forward "in confidence." Police have received over 1,200 calls offering information, and an appeal for help was made by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. In early June 2009, a reconstruction of Lawrence's last known movements was featured in a Crimewatch appeal. The feature generated more than 60 telephone calls. Also in June, 100 days after his daughter went missing, Peter Lawrence launched a YouTube appeal for information. In the appeal, he stated his belief that the internet was vital in the search. In late August 2009, police and the Lawrence family used the annual Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire to publicise the campaign.

Cyprus link
In September 2009, police revealed that the search for Lawrence had been extended to Cyprus. Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway stated that Lawrence "knew several people who live on the island" and that she may have "received job offers" while there. Galloway also stated that some people who had been interviewed had been "reluctant and less than candid" when spoken to, and that a team of officers had been sent to Cyprus to interview people who Lawrence met there. It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence was from a man who was on the island.