Paula was 37 years old at the time of her disappearance. Paula was described as having bipolar disorder and was in poor health. Although at the time of the disappearance she was not known to have a job, it was thought she may have been employed as a bartender and seamstress. Paula lived with her only daughter, Lois, in Culme Road, West Derby, Liverpool.
She was last seen wearing a grey jumper and possibly a pink cardigan over the top with dark jeans and a gold Madonna pendant necklace. It is thought that she had 3 small bags of clothes with her. Paula was last seen by her family when they dropped her off at her home after a family meal at a Chinese restaurant.
The next morning, on 22nd August 2009, Lois claims that Paula went into her room and told her that she was going to stay with a friend named Vicky for a few days. Lois claimed that Paula left that morning carrying a number of bags of clothes. At 17:50, Lois' phone received a text message from Paula's phone saying that she was going to stay with a friend. A message was also sent to Vicky's phone from Paula's saying that she was going away for a few days. It was later established that Paula had booked and paid for a hotel room for that night, but never arrived to check in.
The alarm was raised when it was discovered that Paula had not stayed with Vicky and had not called her parents, which was said to be out of character.
Paula's cash card was used to withdraw money on a number of separate occasions in the days following her disappearance. At an inquest in 2014, police files revealed that a total of £850 was withdrawn from her account after she disappeared, including a £200 withdrawal made at 03:23. Police have stated that both Paula and her daughter knew the PIN for the card.
During the period of her disappearance, an apparent attempt to phone Vicky had been made from Paula's phone; however, technical problems prevented the call from being connected. A total of 176 calls were made to Paula's voicemail after her disappearance. These calls from Vicky, and Paula's parents and sisters; none came from her daughter Lois.
On 5th May 2012, Paula's body was found by a dog walker next to the loop line cycle path in Fazakerley, Liverpool near its junction with Blackthorn Road. The dog discovered the bones on an embankment in what appeared to be an old fire pit. The male dog walker called the police immediately. The body was identified using Paula's medical and dental records. A 20cm kitchen knife was found in the fire pit alongside Paula's body, similar to knives used at her home. Discovered with the body was some melted blue plastic of the type used to make wheelie bins.
Police have been unable to establish exactly when Paula was killed but stated that the body was dumped in the fire pit at some time between September 2011 and January 2012.
Police launched a murder inquiry following the discovery of the body and appealed to the public with the hope of making contact with anyone who saw Paula either on the day of the disappearance or after.
On 13th June 2012, Paula's daughter Lois and her boyfriend, Kevin Kavanagh, then aged 21 and 20 respectively, were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were released on bail the next day. The house Lois shared with her mother was sealed off for forensic examination. Lois and Kevin were released without charge in August 2013 due to insufficient evidence.
At the inquest, prosecutors stated there was not enough evidence to charge Lois and Kevin as there was "no realistic prospect of conviction". Lois was twice summoned to appear at her mother's inquest but failed to attend both times claiming that she was unwell after suffering an asthma attack following an arrest for theft. Kevin appeared in the witness box but stated that he had been advised not to answer questions put by the coroner to avoid potential incrimination. A narrative verdict was recorded and the police have stated that the case remains open.